COPs on the Hill: Stories from the week of July 9, 2010
Posted July 13th, 2010 by hiwayhowieShrinking Briefcase: Back in the Dark Ages, circa 2005 when Misty and I rode into this town, I carried 5-6 copies of 12-14 types federal info that demonstrated the metrics* of the drug policy had been going backwards for 40 years. Several times per day staffers would challenge me on information, causing me to give them copies prepared by the DEA and the Drug Czar’s office (ONDCP).
About a year ago after a particularly long day of walking the halls of Congress, I took stock of exactly how much of what did I need. I realized that it had been many months to a year or more that a staffer had asked for this or that type of documentation. I was able to reduce the weight of copies by more than half. Now I am asked for govt. statistics and graphs about 1-2 times per month. This demonstrates that nearly 100% of staffers know what we know: the policy is a disaster and dysfunctional.
Do you mind?: It was a typical, busy recess week for me. I made 22 presentations over four days. Meagan asked me to postpone our scheduled Thursday meeting till Friday in order that two interns could sit in. She said both had a keen interest in drug policy and she believed they would benefit from my presentation.
The three of us had an excellent chat on Friday with the interns posing challenging questions. 30 minutes later the repeal prohibition crowd had three new converts. Small steps. BTW, it was an Republican office.
*metrics = statistiks
COP stats since August 2009:
430 presentations to Congressional Staffers (22 more this week)
7 presentations to VIPs (elected officials)
36 published Letters to the Editor (that we know of)
Numerous conferences, hearings & briefings attended. C-Span broadcast my question at a Senate briefing. (one hearing this week)
11 radio shows
6 TV interviews (Colombian TV, Fox and Univision)
My Published Rebuttal to an article written for a police magazine by a narc in California regarding the upcoming vote on Prop 19:
Our colleague Officer Watkins made a common mistake when he stated that marijuana causes the agony of Mexico. Prohibition of marijuana causes those deaths, not the use of MJ. The production of marijuana on public land does cause environmental problems but that would not occur, if farmers could grow it legally on their own land. Nobody grows corn in a National Forest. Prohibition is the underlying problem, Chris. What you wrote about are the unintended consequences of prohibition.
During my 18 years of police service I was dispatched to zero calls generated by the use of pot. Alcohol use generated some 1300, including murder, suicide, rape, child abuse, felonious, aggravated and simple assault/battery. Pot is a much safer drug than alcohol both for the user and those around them.
We will arrest a lot more pedophiles, when detectives are not flying around in helicopters looking for green plants. Road patrol will arrest more DUIs, when they don’t have their heads buried in some kid’s seat looking for a baggie. No question that marijuana prohibition reduces public safety. Our job is public safety, not personal safety. Tomorrow we will be arresting fat people for possessing salt. Is that what we want to do as a profession?
Consider being a member of COPs at $30.00 or more per year. Add your voice to those who 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 check.
Howard
Detective/Officer Howard Wooldridge (retired)
Drug Policy Specialist, COP – www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org
Washington, DC
817-975-1110 Cell
howard@citizensopposingprohibition.org
Citizens Opposing Prohibition – Become a Member
PO Box 772
Buckeystown, MD 21717-0772
Modern Prohibition/The War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional & immoral domestic policy since slavery & Jim Crow.
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