• Congressman Garrett (VA-R)

  • Gov. Chris Christy (NJ-R)

  • Colorado 2012

  • California Field Work, Prop 19

Stories from the summer of 2012

COP on the Hill

Your voice in the United States Congress

Personal note:  At times this newsletter is also my personal diary.  I apologize for not communicating to you what is going on with COP.  I will strive not to let it happen again.  On May 26 I was merrily riding my bicycle across Kansas, when Karen received the diagnosis of cancer (turned out to be ‘non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma’- she is at Stage One with no detectable amount of cancer anywhere in her body per petscan and bone marrow biopsy) and needed major surgery to remove half her cancerous liver.  I had to pedal 3 days to reach the first place to rent a car to come home.  The ride which DID tell my December stroke to kiss my *ss, ended after 2,000 miles in St. Joseph, Missouri.  I have been at Karen’s side since.  Everything, including COP and drug reform, has become of secondary importance.  That is about to change.  Note:  all things being equal, I will finish the last 1100 miles next May.

Old dog and new tricks:  The conservative-leaning Leadership Institute offered an 8 hour seminar on modern, social media last week for 35 dollars.  I learned a ton regarding YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.  My twitter handle is @cannabis cop…I tweet 3-4 times a week and it will always be about reform – not what I had for lunch. 

A star is born?:  Again, this is personal.  A TV show producer found me on YouTube talking to the Rotary in E. Lansing.  He was looking for a police officer type to narrate a new TV show involving truck spills.*(I drove tractor-trailer in college..see bottom)  I spent yesterday taking the train to New York City and a one hour taping.  We might know in two-three months, if the show will be picked up.  Either way it was fun and flattering.  He said I had to wear the Stetson.

Karen just finished her first of 3 rounds of chemo therapy.  This second week is the tough one with pain, nausea, lack of appetite and losing her hair.   She will return to work on July 30.  Thus I will return to the Congress on July 30.  I will NOT make appointments in case Karen needs me.  I hate making a commitment and then having to cancel.  I will do my usual door to door method which is very successful, especially during the August recess.

 Furthermore, all things being equal Misty and I will be working the street corners of Colorado starting about 1 October. .(Karen’s chemo should be over in late Sept).. Colorado’s Amendment 64 to legalize/regulate/tax marijuana has support now at the 61% vs. 27 opposed. = good start.  You probably know that Oregon and Washington (state) also have a legalize/regulate initiative on the ballot this fall.  Massachusetts will have a medical MJ question on the ballot.

Final 3rd year stats and total stats for three (3) years — where your money goes.

  • stats for COP’s third year, started on August 1, 2011:
  • 295 presentations to Congressional staffers:  
  • 9 Letter to the Editor:  
  • 4 Major Television appearances (Univision, BBC, Oppenheimer Presenta):   
  • 19 Other media (newspaper articles, blogs, cable TV, etc):  this week
  • 15 radio shows:  
  • 13 (Member of Congress or VIP) contacts:  
  • Permanent invitation to Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative VIPs.  Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”  Spoke to four (4) candidates for the US Senate who agree with the COP position on at least marijuana.
    • 4 Major conferences attended: Drug Policy Alliance International, the Congressional Black Caucus September conference & CPAC – Conservative Political Action Conference; National Rifle Association

Total for three years of COP:

  • COP total stats in first three years:  August 1, 2009 thru July 31, 2012)
  •  
  • 944 Presentations to Congressional staffers
  • 26 Appearances on major TV networks
  • 14 published interviews in major (daily)newspapers
  • 27 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, etc
  • 66 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $65,000)
  • 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning my efforts & in support of COP position
  • 33 brief chats with Members of Congress
  • 19 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, etc.
  • 10 major conferences attended (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, etc)
  • 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.   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:

 

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