• Congressman Garrett (VA-R)

  • Gov. Chris Christy (NJ-R)

  • Colorado 2012

  • California Field Work, Prop 19

Stories from the week of December 23, 2011

COP on the Hill

Your Voice in the United States Congress

Beat the dead horse:   The House went home on Tuesday night after not passing a bill to extend a few things.  Everyone has left town, many of the office closed completely till the New Year.  I managed 3 presentations.  

If I had a dollar for everyone who asked, “Why is marijuana still illegal?”  I could fund COP for the next 20 years.   Now I simply respond, what can you really expect our Congress to accomplish?  The Dead Horse is Old Nellie and I am just trying to get her to do one simple thing, repeal drug prohibition. 

Beating her with words or a stick will accomplish little.   The Congress is beyond shame.  Thus, my little pet project, www.wearethecartels.com to embarrass the Congress and other politicians has been put in mothballs.

From the archives of Stories, my two most favorite during the past 5 years:

Capitol Newsletter:  December 30, 2005 (very first newsletter)

Funny Story of the Week:  Meeting with a Congressional staffer on Tuesday, I came to realize I was not in Kansas anymore.  This man was sympathetic with LEAP’s position but he said I just did not understand how Washington works.  “It is all about pork.” He said.  “Take your idea of treatment instead of jail.  How does that help my district?  You need to propose that the federal government build a regional treatment center in our district.  That would definitely help you get such a bill passed.   Your ideas would lay off thousands of high-paying, federal prison guard jobs.  You have to replace those lost federal paychecks with other paychecks or you won’t go anywhere in this town.”   After leaving, I lost it and just started laughing.  I am so naïve but this cowboy is learning the ropes.

Capitol Newsletter:   January 6, 2006

FUN STORY OF THE WEEK:  As many of you know, I have been working on ending drug prohibition for 8 years and with over 14,000 persons asking me why, I thought I had heard all the reasons why not.  A Congressional staffer had a new one.  His reason for opposing ending prohibition?  ‘If we legalize marijuana, eventually the growers will want to receive a subsidy to grow it, the same as farmers receive subsidies to grow tobacco, rice, sugar etc.  It will just mean one more expense for the federal government.’  Most of you don’t know it but I do have a poker face.  I coolly replied, “Well, this is the first day of second rodeo.  Call me naïve but I have faith that the US Congress will never subsidize cannabis farmers.”  The staffer remained unconvinced.  I went onto another meeting, chuckling all the way down the hall of the Rayburn Building.

note: here rodeo = job as educator/lobbyist 

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

232 presentations to Congressional staffers:   03 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

11 (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.

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