COPs on the Hill:Stories from the week of June 18, 2010

Tea for one?:  As is often said, ‘in life, it is not what you know but who.’  This week at Grover Norquist’s brunch my Libertarian friend introduced me to a key manager in the national Tea Party Movement.*   After a few minutes she agreed that repealing federal prohibition of marijuana would be absolutely in keeping with the theme of personal freedom and less federal government.   She said she would bring up this issue as she moved around the country organizing and attending Tea Parties.  Small steps.

 I have a new girl friend!!    To the delight of many, the woman on the cover of Time ‘Saint Sarah’ Palin, this week on Fox News declared marijuana to be a “minimal problem.”  She used the words ‘limited resources’ as she declared the police have more important matters than an adult using marijuana in their own home.  Small step, maybe medium.

Once again we see those who are on the side of repealing marijuana prohibition or dialing down the police time spent on the issue cover the entire range of political philosophy from ultra liberal to ultra conservative.

How do I feel?  Wink, wink, nod, nod:    Finishing my lunch in the Longworth café, a Republican aide I have known for several years stopped by to chat.   He agreed Sarah Palin’s marijuana statement will have a small to perhaps medium impact on the vote in California.    He would not say how he felt but he gave me the number of his mom in Los Angeles, saying she would be willing to help me locate places that Misty and I could make a solid impact.  As is often the case, staffers keep their cards close to the chest. *  However, they do communicate much thru a wink, a nod, a phone number.

As I work into my fifth year of this Odyssey, I am gratified and comforted that now a solid majority of Congressional aides (both Dems and Rs) want me to succeed.  Good thing too.  I have had five birthdays here in DC & my energy is less. 

 *Tea Party Movement = politische Bewegung, hauptsächlich Konservative

*cards close to chest = nicht offen zu sein, sondern alles im Kopf halten

COP stats since August 2009:

 387 presentations to Congressional Staffers (4 more this week)

7 presentations to VIPs (elected officials)

33 published Letters to the Editor (that we know of)

Numerous conferences, hearings & briefings attended.  C-Span broadcast my question at a Senate briefing

11 radio shows

6  TV interviews (Colombian TV, Fox and Univision)

Consider being a member of COPs at $30.00 or more per year.    Add your voice to those who agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow.  Go to: www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org and click on Donate/Join – by credit card or check.

Howard

 Detective/Officer Howard  Wooldridge (retired)

Drug Policy Specialist, COP – www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org

Washington, DC

817-975-1110 Cell

howard@citizensopposingprohibition.org

Citizens Opposing Prohibition – Become a Member

PO Box 772

Buckeystown, MD  21717-0772

Modern Prohibition/The War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional &  immoral  domestic policy since slavery  & Jim Crow.