Not Sunny, not optimistic: I received intelligence this week that the 2019 flagship bill (employ the 10th Amendment and repeal the federal prohibition of marijuana) is being actively opposed not just by some pols like Senator Cory Booker, but also several, major drug reform organizations. The clean, simple half page bill to give back to the States the responsibility for MJ I have promoted the past 8 years – has the votes in the House and the Senate. We believe Trump would sign it.
Alas, the bill has a very slim chance of that happening. The Democrats and drug reform orgs want to load up the bill like a Christmas tree putting on ornaments which will, without a doubt, cause our Republican friends in the Senate to vote no. So, I have a decision to make for 2019 and 2020; continue to push the 10th Amendment for MJ, or revert to a broad educational effort against the Drug War / Drug Prohibition (like I did from 2005 to 2010 in Congress).
NOTE: The ideas of Cory Booker and others absolutely have merit to address downstream evils of our MJ prohibition. But putting these ideas in the 10th Bill doom its chances and we will achieve zip, zero, zilch these next two years. Those ideas should be in a stand-alone bill, IMHO. I won’t put the motivations of Booker and my friends in drug reform in writing, as they are also not pretty. There is a reason they call my work area “The Swamp.”
This week I finished the House receiving info on the clean simple 10th Bill. Copy below.
This week’s stats:
3123 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 18 this week
01 Meetings – Grover Norquist,
164 interviews and reports in minor media = 01 this week. (podcast for MS audience)
COP stats since inception: August 2009
303 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0this 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
363 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week
85 Radio Interviews.
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
Apply the Tenth Amendment to Marijuana
HR-2093 & S-1028
Washington, D.C. – April 5, 2019 U.S. Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) & House Members Dave Joyce (R-OH} and Earl Blumenauer {D-OR} reintroduced the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act (STATES Act) with broad bipartisan support that spans the political spectrum.
• Amend the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) so that – as long as states and tribes comply with a few basic protections – its provisions no longer apply to any person acting in compliance with State or tribal laws relating to cannabis activities.
I spent the week informing Member offices of the introduction of the STATES Act (HR 2093 and S-1028). It is essentially the 10th Amendment bill for just MJ I have worked on for the past eight (8) years.
Just a solid chat: By chance, I met the Chief of Staff of Cman Tom Cole’s office (R-OK). We had a round-house, 15-minute chat on a variety of topics. Suffice to say I learned his boss has an evolving position on the drug war… no doubt aided by OK passing, via citizen initiative vote, for a robust MMJ program and defelonize all drugs.
Brief Chat: No one was in the reception area. I heard noise in the Member’s room. I poked my head in and asked the Cman if I could have 30 seconds. He replied, “just 30 seconds.”
Rep. Courtney I knew had always voted yes to the 10th Amendment on MJ, so I simply needed to explain and request that his colleagues leave HR 2093 alone, don’t treat it like a Christmas tree and the Prez would sign it. And 29 seconds later, I left the room.
Portugal: This week at Grover’s I gave the group a 3-minute summary of the countries’ decrim of all drugs success.
This week’s stats:
3105 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 17 this week
303 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 01 this week Joe Courtney (D-CT)
01 Meetings – Grover Norquist,
COP stats since inception: August 2009
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
363 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week
163 interviews and reports in minor media = 0 this week.
85 Radio Interviews.
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
Hypothesis confirmed-The World has moved on: Since I began wearing my new message of Legalize Heroin last August, of the 200 or so who have asked why, about 4% were angry at me. The numbers of people who were negative of the 7M clip runs about 3%. Plz forward the clip on FB, your friends and family.
CPAC interview 2019. 7 minutes on why to legalize heroin. Tell me how did. 11,000 views so far…I am thrilled. 900 thumbs up, 28 thumbs down…
Senator Cornyn – What to do about 10 kids being shot daily? Click on Webcast below..my question comes in at 32-minuteminute mark.
Danke sehr: I informed the Swiss health dept that I finished the distribution of the HAT (heroin assisted treatment) program to all of Congress + two persons in the White House. Bern thanked me for my effort.
PS: Asked by Grover Norquist, I made a presentation, analysis of Red Flag Laws across the USA.
This week’s stats:
3088 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 16 this week
302 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 04 this week Senator Cornyn (R-TX), Senator Casey (D-PA), Senator Ernst (R-IA) and Senator Cardin (D-MD)
03 Meetings – Grover Norquist, International Center Right, Wilson Center
102 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print/Radio media. 01 This week radio station from MN
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 Tribune, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters
COP stats since inception: August 2009
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
363 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week
163 interviews and reports in minor media = 0 this week.
85 Radio Interviews.
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
Mundane: this week I finished the task of distributing to all House Members the Swiss HAT program for heroin addicts. I should be able to do the Senate next week.
Si, yo hablo: A chance encounter in the hallway of Cannon led to a five minute interview in Spanish with a NTN 24 reporter, Emiliana Milano.
Extra Crown Royal, Extra Chocolate: I have sent 101 short notes to George Will, since I arrived in DC 13 years ago. This week for the very first time this popped into my IN box. BTW, if you wondered what I do when “working from home” ; “executive time” ……..
Howard Wooldridge:
Thanks for your note.
George F. Will
Mr. Will wrote a column last week describing how ineffective and useless our drug prohibition/drug war has been. I wrote him a paragraph urging him to take the next step and call for an end to the policy.
I could just about die happy now. His March 2019 column at bottom. A taste of the column:
“cocaine users around the world reported that their most recent cocaine order was delivered in less time, on average, than their most recent pizza order.”
This week’s stats:
3072 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 06 this week
298 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 01 this week ( Senator Scott)
02 Meetings – Town Hall with Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) + Grover Norquist brunch
104 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 01 This week – NTN 24 – national Spanish speaking network.
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
COP stats since inception: August 2009
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
363 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week
163 interviews and reports in minor media = 0 this week.
85 Radio Interviews.
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
On Feb. 12, Joaquín Guzmán Loera, a.k.a. El Chapo, was convicted of multiple crimesrelated to running the Sinaloa drug cartel, Mexico’s largest. Thirteen days before his conviction, authorities seized enough of the synthetic opioid called fentanyl for 100 million lethal doses. It was hidden in a truck carrying cucumbers through the Nogales port of legal entry. On Feb. 28, authorities at the port of Newark inspecting a container ship that had arrived from Colombia found inside a container supposedly filled with dried fruit 3,200 pounds of cocaine, worth $77 million on U.S streets. This was two days after Don Winslow published “The Border,” the final volume in his 1,900-page trilogy of novels (“The Power of the Dog” and “The Cartel”) about the cartels and the U.S. “war on drugs.” He could hardly have arranged a better launch for his book, which is already on best-seller lists.
His thesis is that the war on drugs resembles the Vietnam War in its futility and its collateral damage to Mexicans, more than 250,000 of whom have died and an additional 40,000 have disappeared, according to the Financial Times, in the past dozen years from violence associated with rivalrous cartels and law-enforcement measures. Those endless photos of confiscated sacks of drugs do resemble old photos of dead Vietcong — body counts of replaceable bodies. El Chapo, 61, will die in a U.S. “supermax” prison, and his incarceration — he has been in custody since 2016 — will make no difference regarding drug flows.
The mayhem and sadism Winslow describes are, he says, derived from credible reports. Wonder what the Central Americans who trek through Mexico to the U.S. border are fleeing? Read Winslow’s description of a 10-year-old Guatemalan living off a garbage dump, alert for trucks bringing garbage from the better neighborhoods.
Winslow might be right about sinister involvements of some U.S. financial institutions in handling the cartels’ billions. He could, however, have omitted the thinly — very thinly — disguised President Trump, and his son-in-law, who knowingly uses cartel money to rescue himself from a bad Manhattan real estate bet. One reason to read fiction is to avoid reading about those people. However, the upward of $40 billion in profits made from the $150 billion U.S. market — 30 million consumers of illicit drugs — must go somewhere. First, to Mexico, “so much cash,” Winslow says, “they don’t even count it, they weigh it.” But then where?
Every day 4,500 trucks pass, necessarily with usually minimal inspection, through three legal entry points along the U.S.-Mexico border. Any wall would be irrelevant to interrupting drug shipments. As is the strategy of bringing down cartel kingpins. The New York Times reports that in 2016 and 2017, when El Chapo was in custody, “Mexican heroin production increased by 37 percent and seizures of fentanyl in places like Nogales more than doubled.”
The “supply side” attack on drugs is frustrated by, among other things, geography and the torrent of south-north commerce. The “demand side” is frustrated by declining prices (the supply-side failure) for increasingly potent products, such as fentanyl, which has passed prescription opioids and heroin in overdose deaths. Made from chemicals, not crops, and patented almost 60 years ago, it is mixed with heroin for an extra kick — and if doses are not carefully calibrated, a lethal kick. Says New York University’s Mark A.R. Kleiman: In 1979, a milligram of pure heroin sold for about $9 in today’s prices; today it costs less than 25 cents. “Fifty grams of fentanyl — just over an ounce and a half — has the punch of a kilogram of heroin, and it’s way, way cheaper.” Three hundred micrograms — “roughly the weight of a grain of table salt” — can kill. And dealers are not precise chemists.
“We have,” Kleiman says, “about 30 times as many drug dealers behind bars today as we had in 1980,” but today’s dealers employ cellphones, texting, social media and home delivery. In the most recent Global Drug Survey, Kleiman says, “cocaine users around the world reported that their most recent cocaine order was delivered in less time, on average, than their most recent pizza order.”
He notes that serious cultural change has taken 50 years regarding tobacco, yet it is “still much more widely used than any of the illicit drugs except for cannabis.” And “the fentanyls aren’t going to be the last class of purely synthetic and super-potent recreational chemicals; they’re just the first.” Worse living through chemistry, even if it disadvantages the crop-growing cartels of Winslow’s epic.
A. I am now a little over half done dropping off at all 535 Members’ offices – the Swiss Method of Heroin Treatment. I finish the drop-off by saying, as I raise my right hand, ‘ I swear I am NOT an agent of the Swiss government. I am not being paid a million dollars to influence the decisions of the United States government.’
I then say, ‘ I do represent First Responders, the police and paramedics, who will handle a thousand drug overdose cases today of whom 200 will die. This is creating too much stress on these two professions.’
I am confident I will be remembered.
B. At a meeting this week I met an assistant to the Speaker of the House of a state in the middle of the country. After a minute he asked, “Are the guy who wears The Shirt at CPAC? I’ve seen you there a couple of times.” I pled guilty. I was/am remembered.
Personal Note: 21 years ago, Suzy Wills booked me to speak at my first of 400 civic clubs (Downtown Ft. Worth Kiwanis) to give them new ideas about our Drug War. And now in 2019, I am speaking and listening to Members of the United States Congress and advisors to the President of the USA. The list of people to thank is simply too numerous. I just want to say, “Thank You.”
This week’s stats:
3072 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 04 this week
02 Meetings – (CATO had an all-day seminar on effective heroin treatment) + Grover Norquist brunch
COP stats since inception: August 2009
297 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
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
363 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week
163 interviews and reports in minor media = 0 this week.
103 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 01 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
85 Radio Interviews.
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
Envision an America where there are no drug dealers on sidewalks selling drugs, shooting each other and destroying neighborhoods. Imagine a world where all drugs are sold in a state-regulated store by a clerk making 12 dollars an hour. Picture a world where al-Qaeda and other terrorists do not make billions guarding the drug trade and selling drugs. Think of an America where felony crime is reduced by half which allows the police to focus on the deadly DUI, the child predator and other public safety threats. Consider the prospect of redirecting the 72 billion tax dollars currently spent chasing non-violent drug users & their suppliers. See a world where, if one day you or a loved one has a drug problem, you see a doctor not a judge.
This world is possible when we find the courage to end Modern Prohibition.
In the Trenches
Working with Congressman Rohrabacher (CA-48) to end federal marijuana prohibition
