Cops on the Hill:     Stories from the weeks of Sept 23 thru November 4, 2022

 The Good:   I had an excellent two hours at the Grover Norquist meeting, having small chats with 3 Republican candidates running for the House and Senate.

The Bad:  The last 100 offices in the Congress I have not done, will not ever respond to my request of a meeting.

The Ugly:  due to power politics, no meaningful drug reform legislation will see Biden’s’ desk the first two years.  “Staking out a position” has become more important than a 90% win.  MPP, NORML and DPA support the “stake out a position” being more important than a 90%  win. Quite, quite discouraging.

So,…the cowboy is going on vacation, minus three meetings.  On the 9/30, I have a meeting in Berlin with a German BKA (FBI) agent and understand better the German initiative to legalize cannabis in 2023 and any law enforcement objections.   On October 11 I will have a two hour meeting with a govt official of the Swiss Health Ministry to go over the latest changes in their Heroin Assisted Treatment program.  We will also discuss their baby step in Basel, where 370 Swiss citizens (only) will be buying marijuana by year’s end.  Plz don’t ask now why only 370…I will ask the official (en français) in October.

The next day I will again meet with one of the architects of the HAT program, Dr. Bürki now in private practice, for his take on Swiss programs for drug reform.  That meeting will be auf Deutsch.

PS:  to all COP supporters and funders – a heartfelt thanks to all of you for sticking with COP these past two, very difficult, trying years.  Come January, I will start over again and make contact and meetings with all 535..there will be a major turnover in Members.  If the Rs take the House, they will open up the House to the public on Day One.  If Nancy remains in charge, I fear she will continue to have closed doors.