Stories from the week of December 16, 2011

 COP on the Hill

Your Voice in the United States Congress

Shake hands with four Members, chat with one:   Congressman Session (R-TX) asked about the LONG RIDER belt buckle.  With two other Members I shook hands & kept going and with one from Georgia we had a 90 second chat on the issue, as I walked him to the elevator.   Another day at the salt mines, it was.

 Meanwhile I made 14 presentations this week.  Especially important was with a legislative director who blocked out 45 minutes for our conversation.   He wanted and received chapter and verse on how to sell HR 2306 (Repeal MJ prohibition) to his boss and voters.   Another LD that I met again (three times over four years)  likes 2306 and will go to bat for it as soon as the budget crisis has a lull.  Small steps.

 I was struck this week by how many aides had never heard of the Frank/Paul to repeal.   And that reinforces how important it is to meet with all 535 offices, not just our friends.  BTW, we are up to 20 co-sponsors.  My goal is 40 by this time next year.

 Snooze – you lose:  I called the NRA this week (National Rifle Association) to reserve a booth for their April national conference in St. Louis.  Oops.  They rented that last 10 feet two weeks after their show in Pittsburg closed this past May.   Damn!  I will put COP money down for 2013, as soon as I arrive in St. Louis on April 12.

Stats for COP’s third year, started on August 1, 2011:

229 presentations to Congressional staffers:   14 this week

5 Letter to the Editor:   this week

2 Television appearances (Univision):   this week

5 Other media (blogs, cable TV, etc):  this week

7 radio shows:     this week

10 (Member of Congress) contacts:  1 this week

Permanent invitation to Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 140 conservative VIPs.

2 Major conferences attended: Drug Policy Alliance International & the Congressional Black Caucus

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.