Posted July 16th, 2023 by hiwayhowie
Not the analysis they expected: I met with assistants from an Oklahoma senator this week. I praised their state for being one of the top 10 states with progressive drug policies: OK de-felonized simple possession of hard drugs (one of only 18 states to do so) about 10 years ago. OK medical marijuana rules make it simple to qualify and thus buy God’s green plant. Sadly, I am unable to put in this message the look on their faces.
Later, the LA said OK and the Senator remained very conservative on drugs.
Time to Switch: The Senate legislative assistants who will take a COP has shrunk to a mathematical zero. Thus, starting next week, I will switch to the House.
In the House in July we fully expect two major, drug bills to be introduced; a marijuana deschedule bill and another to decrim simple possession of hard drugs at the federal level only.
The MJ deschedule bill will be Republican-centric, simple and Speaker McCarthy has promised it to receive a vote. The decrim bill is expected to contain the same “Defund The Police” paragraph as last year and thus will receive very little support from either party.
Weekly Activities:
4020 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 07 this week…
440chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc 01 this week MD State Senator Karen Young
Meetings (3) 2 at Grover Norquist and 1 with expert on psychedelics
COP stats since inception: August 2009
361 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
97 Radio Interviews: 0 this week;
109 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week.
215 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week –
33 major conferences attended – CPAC 2023, (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
in the past – 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
* 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 June 17th, 2023 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Stories from the week of June 16, 2023
FIRST MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:
COPs was founded in 2009 with the goal of ending all drug prohibition, starting with marijuana. In 2009 we had bills in Congress to employ the 10th Amendment (states rights) for medical use of MJ. The bills never received more than 171 votes of the 218 needed to pass the House. The other bill in play (since the 70s) was NORML’s decrim of 3.5 ounces which was never voted on.
In late 2010 I was able to gather all the major players in DC and convinced them to abandon the NORML approach and agree to a simple, one page 10th Amendment centered bill to end the federal prohibition of marijuana. I emptied my 2-liter bottle of good, Canadian whiskey into about 14 glasses and after 90 minutes, the group agreed to this new idea.
In 2011 Congressmen Barney Frank and Ron Paul introduced that one-page bill. I am happy to report that in 2023 this approach has 74 votes in the Senate and over 300 in the House. I am sad to report that Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Booker are insisting any MJ legislation contain anti-10th Amendment language (social equity programs, etc), thus killing any chance of crucial, Republican support.
All this to say; any and all efforts to normalize marijuana laws should now be directed at the state level, state legislatures for both legalize/regulate and any social equity programs – if this is your primary area of concern/activism/support.
As you know, COP continues to urge Democratic, Senate offices to pressure Schumer/Booker to take a 70% marijuana win and let the rest go. COP is speaking up this session on better access to opioid treatment and urging the Members to look at the next big step in ending The War on Drugs; namely total drug decrim a la Portugal and Oregon.
My spring break is over and I am back to work this weekend and on the Hill Wednesday.
Weekly Activities:
COP stats since inception: August 2009
4013 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 0 this week…
361 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
97 Radio Interviews: 0 this week;
109 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week.
439 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc 0 this week
215 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week –
33 major conferences attended – CPAC 2023, (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
in the past – 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
* 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 May 20th, 2023 by hiwayhowie
Must Be Present to Win: Heading to my 1015 first meeting of the day, I entered the elevator and nodded “mornin” to the lone occupant. After a few seconds my brain kicked in, so I added “Senator.” It was Senator Cotton (R-AR). I was able to deliver my 30 second elevator pitch. And so it goes.
Bill to make fentanyl Schedule One: The aide to Speaker McCarthy told us of a new bill at the Norquist meeting. I was able to ask the question: ‘Doctors give patients 1000s of doses of fentanyl for pain every day. Making it Schedule One means ‘no accepted medical use’ and illegal. Thus, we will need to legalize heroin as a substitute.’…..much laughter, followed by some clarification. LOL
FWIW / Anecdotal: On Saturday at Costco a record 3 people stopped me to say they support the shirt (legalize heroin). Always feels good to receive that validation. Of course, those who disagree, usually just scowl and say nothing.
Spring Break: I need a break from the Swamp…I am jumping on my Big Two-Wheeler on Monday, headed to Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Bryce Canyon, Moab, UT, etc…back in a month..
Weekly Activities:
4013 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 07 this week…
361 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 01 this week – Senator Cotton (R- AR)
2 meetings: Grover Norquist and his Right of Center weekly meeting. Wednesday soiree with about 100 from MJ industry at a swankee building in DC put on by NCIA.
Posted May 20th, 2023 by hiwayhowie
Not Since Vienna: I had an unusually early, 0930, meeting with the Senate Staffer. I arrived way too early at the Dirksen building. Going thru security, I noticed the person behind me, there to testify later, was none other than Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of NIDA (National Institute for Drug Abuse); essentially the nation’s top addiction expert employed by the federal govt.
I walked over, introduced myself and thanked her for her remarks in Vienna, Austria in 2016, when she informed the United Nations annual Drug Conference (I was in the audience) that we should never incarcerate people for simple use of any illegal drug. We had a solid, one – minute chat.
People are going to talk: Waiting for the elevator, I had a chance to chat, again, with Senator Lujan (D-NM). An hour later, I ran into him again near his office, as i was in the process of delivering a letter to him/his office, thanking him for his time earlier in the day. Note: I had met him, when he was a Congressman in the House.
Weekly Activities:
4006 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 09 this week…
1 meeting: Grover Norquist and his Right of Center weekly meeting
441 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc 02 this week : Dr Volkow and a woman running for Congress
COP stats since inception: August 2009
360 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
97 Radio Interviews: 0 this week;
109 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week.
215 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week –
33 major conferences attended – CPAC 2023, (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
in the past – 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
* 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 May 8th, 2023 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Stories from the week of May 5, 2023
Goodness I love my Job: The whole week was just one good ‘happening’ after another.
*Having a coffee, waiting for my next appointment, a legislative assistant stopped asked, ‘aren’t you the guy with the amazing story?’ I replied I did ride my horse from coast to coast…He; ‘wow, i met you in 2019 in the House and you are one of 3 lobbyists i actually remember!’ (Note; in 3 years he probably met about 1200). We had an excellent 3-4 minute chat on the Drug War and then off he went.
*I gave my first presentation in Spanish on the subject of the Swiss Medication Assisted Treatment to Senator Lujan’s health policy advisor. Fun.
*Senator Cruz (R-TX) is on the judiciary and thus his assistant was extra qualified; US Navy and then 2 years as an assistant US attorney in El Paso..solid and grounded he was. After 10 minutes we were chatting like 2 colleagues back at the cop shop…What a pleasure it was!
*Finished the week with a phone chat with another Republican office. He had also been a federal prosecutor in central Texas and before that part of a DHS (Dept of Homeland Security) task force in the Northeast, USA….where he learned first-hand that most thefts were done by drug addicts needing the money. Also a Libertarian, we agreed on much.
Weekly Activities:
4006 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 09 this week…
1 meeting: Grover Norquist and his Right of Center weekly meeting
COP stats since inception: August 2009
360 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
97 Radio Interviews: 0 this week;
109 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week.
439 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc 0 this week
215 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week –
33 major conferences attended – CPAC 2023, (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
in the past – 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
* 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
