Posted December 6th, 2025 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the weeks of November 07 and 14, 2025
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Must be present to win: at the Norquist meeting where I sit at the big table, a guest from North Carolina sat next to me…he turned out to be the President of the NC Senate…we had a nice chat about ending the drug war and shifting to a medical versus criminal justice approach.
It Helps: Since Covid and the rapid rise of heroin/Oxi/fentanyl deaths, the young, 25 year old staffers have noticeably been more attentive to the COP message of making drugs a medical issue. Besides helping to pave the way for major change after the Old Guard retires or dies, it helps this cowboy stay positive and engaged in one-on-one, personal contact.
It was just nice: Also at the Norquist an official of the German embassy gave us some updates of current events in her country. She made a quip about how many Americans had some German blood. So, after I was called upon, I began by saying, “Ich bin viertel Deutscher.” I went on to thank Germany for sending a brigade of soldiers and tanks to Lithuania this year; showing resistance to Russia in a very concrete fashion, finishing saying, “vielen Dank.” |
Meetings this week: 1- Grover Norquist right of center
7189 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 19 this week
488 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 01 this week. President of the NC Senate
COP stats since inception: August 2009
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
117 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 this week
245 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 0 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (3 UN drug conferences in Vienna, Austria), LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Media: Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, OAN, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio) Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press + 9 other MI papers. Chicago Tribune, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters, Stern
* Consider being a member of COP at $40 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 ( to donate by Internet)
To send a check:
COP
POB 543
Buckeystown, MD 21717
Posted December 5th, 2025 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the weeks of October 24 and 31, 2025
Good moments: several times this week as I was speaking to the receptionist, a legislative aid came out of their office or a back room. They had heard my voice, knew who I was and wanted to say hello, leading to an impromptu, productive chat.
Always good to be remembered.
Appreciation: for over a month now neither the Capitol Police nor congressional staff are being paid. And they show up. In the House almost half the offices are fully staffed. And the other half it’s hit or miss.
Meetings this week: 2- Grover Norquist right of center
7179 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 17 this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
487 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 0 this week.
117 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 this week
245 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 0 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (3 UN drug conferences in Vienna, Austria), LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Media: Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, OAN, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio) Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press + 9 other MI papers. Chicago Tribune, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters, Stern
* Consider being a member of COP at $40 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 ( to donate by Internet)
To send a check:
COP
POB 543
Buckeystown, MD 21717
Posted December 5th, 2025 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the week of Sept. 26, October 7 and 14, 2025
Must be present to win: At the Norquist meeting I had a solid chat with a state Senator from Kansas. He was and receptive to COP ideas. Given how ultra-conservative his state is, that is a good start.
On the 26th I participated in a 30-minute Q and A from a White House staffer. It was a wide-ranging chat on many topics…he did not respond to my written question, regarding re-schedule, de-schedule marijuana….I will ask again this month.
On the 6th I was visiting my families’ farm in northern Michigan (coming back from a wedding). Imagine my surprise that our neighbor to the west had put up an 8 foot fence, draped in tarp and invisible…..long story short = they are growing 200 acres for a medical marijuana processor. I asked a few questions of the employee and will get a tour, next time I’m in the area.
Back to work in the House.
Meetings this week: 1- Grover Norquist right of center
7179 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 09this week
487 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 01 this week. A state Senator from Kansas.
COP stats since inception: August 2009
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
117 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 this week
245 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 0 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (3 UN drug conferences in Vienna, Austria), LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Media: Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, OAN, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio) Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press + 9 other MI papers. Chicago Tribune, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters, Stern
* Consider being a member of COP at $40 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 ( to donate by Internet)
To send a check:
COP
POB 543
Buckeystown, MD 21717
Posted September 25th, 2025 by hiwayhowie
Way above average week:
Old Friends: I was headed to my next appointment, when I heard a voice in the hallway, “Hey Cowboy. Hold up..It’s Bill from Texas.” Sure enough it was a Legislative Director I had known for 10 years. We caught up on personal and political matters. We agreed that we both love our work and will keep going till they drag us out of the building.
New Friend: Introducing myself and COPs to the receptionist, a gentleman in the large office came out, introduced himself as the Chief of Staff and asked for a few minutes of my time. In the next 10-12 minutes he spoke of his years as the chief prosecutor of a western state, drug task force. He had been a zealot. Then, he became a defense attorney and saw the other side of the issue. He told me to consider him and ally in making drugs a medical versus criminal issue.
Given the cooler temps this week, I wore my jacket with the lettering, “COPS SAY LEGALIZE HEROIN, ask me why.’ This generated numerous spontaneous chats all day.
Meetings this week: 1- Grover Norquist right of center
7170 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 16 this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
486 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 04 this week. Nice chats with the former Speaker of the Missouri House and 3 MO Senators.
117 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 this week
245 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 0 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (3 UN drug conferences in Vienna, Austria), LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Media: Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, OAN, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio) Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press + 9 other MI papers. Chicago Tribune, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters, Stern
* Consider being a member of COP at $40 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 ( to donate by Internet)
To send a check:
COP
POB 543
Buckeystown, MD 21717
Posted September 25th, 2025 by hiwayhowie
This Week:
01 meetings… Grover Norquist, right of center
7154 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 9 this week
Spreading the Word: At Grover’s this week their was a 9 person delegation from the Scandinavian countries. Their leader asked if I were a cowboy and after a moment invited me to let the group know of my mission in Congress…I held the summary to a minute, foto op and then the meeting started.
COP stats since inception: August 2009
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
486 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 04 this week. Nice chats with the former Speaker of the Missouri House and 3 MO Senators.
117 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 this week
245 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 0 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (3 UN drug conferences in Vienna, Austria), LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Media: Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, OAN, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio) Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press + 9 other MI papers. Chicago Tribune, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters, Stern
* Consider being a member of COP at $40 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 ( to donate by Internet)
To send a check:
COP
POB 543
Buckeystown, MD 21717
