COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of October 13, 2017

COP on the Hill:

Karma strikes again: The week was devoured by the DPA – Drug Policy Alliance bi-annual conference in Atlanta. The gathering of 1200 was long on telling us the problems caused by Drug Prohibition and very short on what/how/strategies to make our society better, more just. I won’t go again in two years…not worth it.

I did meet Rick Steves of PBS fame for a moment in the PM. The next morning he was at breakfast by himself. He accepted my invitation to join us at the LEAP table. He and I spent the next 15 minutes discussing the Swiss MAT program in which he took great interest. He expressed a desire to learn more during his next trip to Switzerland, if his producer ok’d the concept. I offered him my Swiss contacts, Woohoo!!

Thank you: I was about to pay my lunch tab, when an attendee grabbed my tab, telling the server my money was counterfeit.

The next day driving home and stopping for gas, a 45 y/o asked me why….we chatted for 2-3 minutes, waiting to pay for our coffee. He paid for my coffee, saying thanks for all I do…He has 7 children and is concerned they might be tempted to sell drugs. He really liked my statement that legalizing all drugs would eliminate the job option for kids to sell drugs.

Nope. Did not win an award at the conference. Especially the kind words of that father buying me that cup of coffee is all the recognition I need. And via the shirt chats, I receive that feedback every week.

This week’s stats:

214 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 02 this week
79 Radio Interviews. 01 this week
DPA Bi-Annual Conference

COP stats since inception: August 2009

2557 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 00 this week
232 personal chats with a Member of Congress… this week
149 interviews and reports in minor media = 0 this week.
84 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000) 0 this week
42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
72 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss. French TV and radio) 00 this week
26 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 (CPAC)
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
* 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. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org