COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of March 9, 2012

• COP on the Hill
• Your Voice in the United States Congress

Early Bird gets the worm:   First Wednesday of month always means catching the 0558 train to attend the monthly Leadership Institute’s breakfast (LI trains young elephants– 100,000 so far).  The speaker was the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).  Being in the front row, he took my question on the failure and the cost $$ of drug prohibition.  Jordan acknowledged too many in prison costing too much money & “we need to re-think the policy.”  I enjoyed Swiss chocolate and a shot of Crown that night.  His aide Wes Goodman was there.  He attends Grover’s brunch every week.

After the meeting, I had chats with 4 of those young elephants and 2 guys my age…all thanking me for my courage to bring up the topic.

Letter to the editor:  After 15 years I finally figured out an LTE, when drug dogs search a school.. See bottom.  Thanks to Jerry Epstein for the stat of 23 million w/ a drug problem = 19 million it is alcohol.  Very useful.

Grover’s ‘cattle call’ pays dividends:  I was able to chat with several of the men and women who are running for Congress.  One chat started in the elevator with my jacket.  Below is my follow-up note to him.  Name and state changed per Grover’s rules of the Brunch. (note: Dr. Broun voted YES on states’ rights for medical marijuana)

‘Bill’ – good to meet and chat drug policy at Grover’s brunch.  I hope/trust you found the fact sheet on the Gateway Theory/Myth useful.   When you are a Congressman, please follow the wise pillars that guide/control the vote of Dr. Paul Broun (R-GA, 10th); namely

1. Right/Moral 2. Constitutional 3. Needed 4. Affordable

These pillars are as important as the Tax Pledge to give voters confidence in your ‘brand.’

Keep in mind that all I want to do in Congress is return to MS the ability to make its own decisions regarding marijuana. i.e. apply the 10th Amendment.

Bread & Water: Peanut Butter & Honey:   After much soul-searching I have decided to strike off one of my two bucket list items; namely riding a bicycle from Oregon to Georgia-Virginia.  My world-class bicycle brother Frosty and I will leave Newport Beach, Oregon on April 22.  We will follow the Misty Trail of 2003.  Making 50-60 miles/day & all things being equal we should be on the East Coast by July 1.  Yes, my body will be 90% bread, honey and peanut butter by July 1.  Know that riding a bike will be much, much easier than riding a horse 3100 miles.

We expect some publicity.  I will wear my t-shirt and Frosty will wear one saying: DADS SAY LEGALIZE POT.

Back to work the next day.

• Stats for COP’s third year, started on August 1, 2011:
• 260 presentations to Congressional staffers:   3 this week
• 9 Letter to the Editor:  1 this week (at bottom)
• 3 Major Television appearances (Univision, BBC):   this week
• 16 Other media (blogs, cable TV, etc):   this week
• 12 radio shows:    this week
• 13 (Member of Congress or VIP) contacts:  1 this week
• Permanent invitation to Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative VIPs.  Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
  • 3 Major conferences attended: Drug Policy Alliance International, the Congressional Black Caucus September conference & CPAC – Conservative Political Action Conference
  • Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year.   All contributions are tax-deductible.   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.   If you 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 send a check to: 

• COP
• POB 2902
• Washington, DC  20013
•  
• If you have questions or comments, please send an email to: howard@citizensopposingprohibition.org
•  
• COP total stats in first two years:  August 1, 2009 thru July 31, 2011)
•  
•  649 Presentations to Congressional staffers
• 22 Appearances on major TV networks
• 10 published interviews in newspapers
• 12 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, etc
• 57 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $56,000)
• 19 brief chats with Members of Congress
• 13 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, etc.
• 6 major conferences attended (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, etc)
• Permanent invitation to Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 140 conservative VIPs

PUBLISHED – The Frederick News Post (circulation circa 50,000 daily)

BOOZE THE BIG PROBLEM

Speaking as a retired detective, I hope and trust my colleague Narco and his handler, Deputy Caliskan (“Surprise, surprise,” March 3), were also looking for the drug that kills and injures the most students — namely alcohol. We in law enforcement know that the use and abuse of alcohol will hurt and kill more high school students than all the prohibited drugs combined.

Twenty-three million people in this country have a drug abuse problem. For 19 million, their primary drug of abuse is alcohol.

We need to reduce that horrific number. Get ’em, Narco!

Howard Wooldridge

Adamstown, MD