• Congressman Garrett (VA-R)

  • Gov. Chris Christy (NJ-R)

  • Colorado 2012

  • California Field Work, Prop 19

COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of November 1, 2013

COP on the Hill

Stories from the week of November 1, 2013

New Strategy:  I have presented to all but 100 offices in the House and 32 in the Senate.  The holdouts refuse to acknowledge my email and phone requests for a meeting.  This translates to me walking into those offices and asking for an impromptu meeting.  This method has a rate of return of about 5% = Yuk.  If you have ever been in sales, you know what I am talking about.

So, for the next two months I am contacting the ‘Health’ legislative assistant of the hold out offices to make a presentation.  I will emphasize two points to reduce death, disease, crime and drug use via making drugs a medical issue:  1) The Good Samaritan (drug overdose) Law. 2) The Swiss Heroin Assisted Treatment Program…Both at bottom…I have my first ‘health’ presentation this coming week.  At a minimum I inform the offices of the existence of two groups of law enforcement professionals (COP & LEAP) who oppose current policy which is a major component of each chat.

Insider View:  The legislative director of Congressman Rohrabacher shared his offices’ ‘Dear Colleague Letter’ regarding their signature bill:  HR 1523 (repeal federal, marijuana prohibition bill) See below.

Not routine:  Grover Norquist requested & I presented to his group this week.  I gave them  the latest info in general and Colorado stores in particular.  It is always a hoot to stand up in front of the 150 attendees and inform them of our march to repeal.

This week’s stats:

  • 1416 Presentations to Congressional staffers..07 this week

 

 

COP stats since inception: August 2009

  • 46 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.  00 this week
  • 35 Radio Interviews..   00 this week
  • 23 published interviews in major (daily)newspapers or magazine… 00 this week
  • 64 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc.. 00 this week
  • 46 brief chats with Members of Congress.. 00 this week
  • 16 major conferences attended..  this week (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions.  etc)  this week
  • 34 Appearances on major TV networks..this week(Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)
  • 72 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $70,000)
  • 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
  • Permanent invitation to Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders.   Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
  • Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year.   All contributions are tax-deductible.  30 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.   If you agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow and want to be a part of the solution…  Go to: 

RE: HR 1523

 April 10, 2013

Dear Colleague:

 Please join us as an original co-sponsor of a bill we intend to introduce in the near future—the “Respect State Marijuana Laws Act of 2013.”  The bill represents a unique opportunity for us to show respect for our constituents’ wishes, regardless of our personal opinion as to whether marijuana should be legalized.

Specifically, our bill legalizes marijuana at the federal level to the extent it is legal at the state level.  In other words, the proposal would prevent the federal government from continuing to prosecute residents who are acting in accordance with their state’s marijuana laws. 

This approach to marijuana policy is consistent with the views of a vast majority of voters: a recent poll found that nearly three quarters of Americans believe that the federal government should not arrest those who use marijuana in the states that have legalized it.  In our view, support for this legislation will not be translated into “soft on crime” rhetoric by opponents, but will instead be lauded as a common-sense approach to a very difficult situation we’ve found ourselves in.

So far, 20 states, as well as the District of Columbia, have legalized the use of marijuana to some extent.  Most have legalized it for medicinal purposes, two have legalized it for recreational purposes, and many more will likely loosen their restrictions on the use of the drug in years to come.  Our bill would establish federal government respect for all states’ marijuana laws, and keep the federal government out of the business of criminalizing marijuana in states that don’t want it to be criminal.

Please join us as an original co-sponsor of our bill to show respect for state marijuana laws.  If you would like to sign on or have questions, please contact Jeff Vanderslice (Mr. Rohrabacher’s staff), or David Greengrass (Mr. Cohen’s staff).

 

GOOD SAM LAW

 

Signed into law on April 3, 2007 by Governor Richardson

 

SENATE BILL 200

48TH LEGISLATURE – STATE OF NEW MEXICO – FIRST SESSION, 2007

INTRODUCED BY Richard C. Martinez AN ACT RELATING TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES; PROVIDING LIMITED IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION FOR A PERSON WHO SEEKS OR OBTAINS MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR A DRUG-RELATED OVERDOSE. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

 

Section 1. A new section of the Controlled Substances Act is enacted to read:

“[NEW MATERIAL] OVERDOSE PREVENTION–LIMITED IMMUNITY.—

 

A. A person who, in good faith, seeks medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug-related overdose shall not be charged or prosecuted for possession of a

controlled substance pursuant to the provisions of Section 30-31-23 NMSA 1978 if the evidence for the charge of possession of a controlled substance was gained as a result of

the seeking of medical assistance.

 

B. A person who experiences a drug-related overdose and is in need of medical assistance shall not be charged or prosecuted for possession of a controlled substance pursuant to the provisions of Section 30-31-23 NMSA 1978 if the evidence for the charge of possession of a controlled substance was gained as a result of the overdose and the need

for medical assistance.

 

C. The act of seeking medical assistance for someone who is experiencing a drug-related overdose may be used as a mitigating factor in a criminal prosecution pursuant

to the Controlled Substances Act.”

 

 

This concept was endorsed by the US Mayors Conference, June 25, 2008

 

 

 

SWISS HEROIN-ASSISTED TREATMENT 1994 – 2013: SUMMARY

 

This summary was taken from six published reports and updated every year.    The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health reviewed and approved its release.  Additional questions should be directed to Dr.   Adreas Ledergerber the science and health advisor to the Swiss Ambassador at the Embassy.   Tel: 202-745-7900 – NOTE:  This summary was researched and written by Howard J. Wooldridge of Citizens Opposing Prohibition.

 

Overview:  Due to the severe drug problem in Switzerland in the early 1990s, (rising number of injection drug users, visibility of open drug scenes, AIDS epidemic, rising number of drug related deaths, poor physical health, high criminality) the Swiss made a fundamental shift in approaching the problems caused by heroin addiction.  The Swiss offer treatment-on-demand.   Of an estimated 22-24,000 addicts (dropping 4% per year) 19,500 are in treatment and 92% are given daily doses of primarily methadone at conventional clinics.  The Swiss treat about 1300 addicts with maintenance doses of heroin via 23 special clinics operating in cities and two prisons.  The Swiss approach has resulted in lower rates of crime, death, disease, a slight drop in expected new users as well as an improvement in mental and physical health, employment and housing.  The program has been copied by seven countries: Germany, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, England, Spain and Canada.

 

* To qualify for a heroin prescription: 1) at least 18 years old; 2) been addicted (daily use) for at least two years; 3) present signs of poor health; 4) two or more failed attempts of conventional treatment (methadone or other); 5) Surrender drivers license; 6) Heroin can only be obtained at the clinic and must be consumed on site (oral or injection).  (Note: Under strict control and specific criteria [for example full employment] a few are allowed to take one oral dose daily away)

 

  1. Patients can receive up to three doses of heroin per day.  66% take the heroin via needle injection, the rest via pill or liquid heroin mixed with juice.
  2. Patients average about three (3) years in this plan.  However, they may stay in treatment indefinitely.   20% of original patients are still in the program.
  3. The vast majority of patients are satisfied or very satisfied with the program.
  4. Average age of patient: 39 years.

                                                                                                                                                                                                       

*Crime Issues:  60% drop in felony crimes by patients (80% drop after one year in the program).  82% drop in patients selling heroin.

*Death Rates:  No participant has died from a heroin overdose since the inception of the program.  The heroin used is inspected for purity and strength by technicians. 

*Disease Rates: New infections of Hepatitis and HIV have been reduced for patients.

*New Use Rates: Slightly lower than expected. 1)   As reported in the Lancet June 3, 2006, the medicalisation of using heroin has tarnished the image of heroin and made it unattractive to young people. 2)  Most new users are introduced to heroin by members of their social group and 50% of users also deal to support their habit.  Therefore, with so many users/sellers in treatment, non-users have fewer opportunities to be exposed to heroin, especially in the rural areas. 

*Cost Issues:  48 dollars/day:  Patient costs are covered by national health insurance agency.  Patients pay annually 700 dollars for the compulsory insurance.  Note: The Swiss save about 38 dollars per day per patient mostly in lowered costs for court and police time, due to less crime committed by the patients.  

*The Swiss purchase about 60 kilos of heroin for $130,000.  Black market price: 3.7 million.

*In December 2008 the Swiss voted (68%-32%) to make the program part of their body of laws.       

 

Reader:  What the Swiss Program is not:

 

  1. It has not eliminated street sales of heroin.  Dealers still exist in cities with clinics.
  2. It is not a ‘free’ drugs program.  Patients must purchase health care insurance and receive their methadone or heroin as part of their drug treatment therapy.
  3. A non-heroin using adult cannot walk into a clinic and receive heroin.
  4. Simply put, the Swiss are using a comprehensive public health approach (treatment on demand) to heroin addiction whose unique feature is to allow a small minority of patients to receive pure, maintenance doses of heroin.
  5. Heroin is NOT a legal, regulated and or taxed product in Switzerland.
  6. The Swiss have never calculated how many fewer people have taken heroin during the life of the program because of the HAT (heroin assisted treatment) program.  They have calculated there was an annual drop of users of about 1% between 1992 and 2002.  Officially, the Swiss attribute any progress to their Four Pillar Approach, not any one component.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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