COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of April 13, 2018

COP on the Hill:

Stories from the week of April 13, 2018

Passing the Torch: For as long as I have been in DC (2005), Republican Rohrabacher has led those Rs who want to apply the 10th A to marijuana policy. That changed on Friday morning as CMan David Joyce (from the NE corner of Ohio) became the point man. He is a former public defender and prosecutor, solid and will work to convince other Rs to abandon the federal prohibition of marijuana. BTW, 27 of the leaders of MJ reform met to pass the torch. We now have some seriously heavy hitters on our side. (industry folks with real money)…the COP, MPP, NORML, DPA { folks who are here for the social justice aspects } are wonderful and we will one day pass the torch to the industry and fade into history

Nobody put champagne in the fridge: As I was attending 3 meetings on Friday, R Senator Gardner of CO announced that Trump would support a 10th A approach to marijuana. It was nice to hear it but nobody started looking for a new job. Because: De dicho al hecho – hay mucho trecho {From the saying to the having it done – there is a really big gap}…especially in Washington 2018.

Must be present to win: COP members may be tired of reading this stuff (Just show up = 90% of success). En route to the next presentation, who is wondering the hallways, looking for his new office? = Conor Lamb (D-PA) who won by 750 votes. We had a nice chat and ended with him giving his general support to the 10th A for marijuana issues.

This week’s stats:

2762 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 12 this week
264 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 10 this week

(Conor Lamb (D-PA), Brady (R-TX), Mark Meadows (R-NC), Jackie Speers (D-CA), Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Sires (D-NJ), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Gaetz (R-FL), Norman (R-SC)

242 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 01 this week (candidate running for Congress)

Meetings – 4 meetings

COP stats since inception: August 2009

152 interviews and reports in minor media = 0 this week.
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
75 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss. French TV and radio) 0 this week
28 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 00 this week
83 Radio Interviews. 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 prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org