COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of May 17, 2019

COP on the Hill

Stories from the week of May 17, 2019

Better late than never: Making my rounds in the Senate, I spotted presidential candidate Amy Klobochar. I was able to introduce myself and COPs. I was mid-sentence about the current legislation (STATES Act), when another part of my brain screamed, she was already a co-sponsor. I paused, thanked her for being a co-sponsor and kept going. FYI, it is considered rude behavior to engage in idle chatter with a Member, unless invited.

How to start a chat: the staffer noticed my buckle, as I was coming down the hall and remarked it was the biggest he had ever seen. The next 8 minutes or so, we discussed the STATES Act and how to go 3100 miles on a horse…all good. PS The ‘LONG RIDER’ buckle at 5 X 4 inches is by far the largest buckle worn by any of the 25,000 lobbyists in the Swamp.

Pull Needed: I informed my professional friend and local VIP Grover Norquist about the meeting last week with a senior, R office.

This week I delivered to all Senate offices a list of pejorative reasons police officers do NOT want MJ legalized. See bottom

This week’s stats:

3145 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 12 this week
307 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 01 this week Senator Klobachar (D-MN)
364 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 01 this week R Candidate for NC 03 House seat
85 Radio Interviews.. 01 this week
01 Meetings – Grover Norquist

COP stats since inception: August 2009

164 interviews and reports in minor media = 0 this week
102 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week
Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio) Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press + 9 other MI papers. Chicago Tribute, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters
31 major conferences attended – (UN drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders. Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
* 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
84 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000) 0 this week
43 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
* Consider being a member of COP at $40.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 40 dollars buys all the copy paper COP uses in one year. Law Enforcement’s voice in opposition to current policy is vital on the Hill to achieve a repeal of federal drug prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org

Reasons Police Officers do not want MARIJUANA legalized:
1. Ability to Search: Using marijuana smell as a claim/lawful reason, officers are able to search essentially any vehicle or person they come in contact with. With legalization – this ability will be severely restrained…as we already see in Colorado.
1A. Racist cops want this tool (prohibition) to hurt people they don’t like.
2.Money: nationwide -the police earn via wages and overtime circa 11-13 billion per year, due to marijuana being illegal. Fear of layoffs due to legalization. Also, the ‘free’ federal $$.

2A. Money: the police earn circa five (5) billion from civil asset forfeiture. Marijuana arrests consistently constitute half of all drug arrests, thus half of the money.

3. Emotional: Officers who have buried colleagues (essentially every cop in the USA), due to a drug raid, shot at a traffic stop involving drug trade – these officers do not want to confront the emotional trauma their partner, friend, colleague died “for nothing,” in vain.
4. Cognitive Dissonance: For 80 years Law Enforcement has demonized marijuana, up to including being as dangerous as heroin. To admit they were wrong, is often impossible for them.
5. In order to be promoted, street cops know they need high arrest numbers. Marijuana arrests are / can be numerous, easy to find and with minor, personal risk.

List prepared by Detective Howard J. Wooldridge, Bath Township, Michigan (retired)