Posted February 9th, 2026 by hiwayhowie
2025 – By the numbers
19 personal chats with a Member of Congress
427 Presentations to Congressional staffers
37 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs
The entire year COP focused on promoting the Swiss approach to opioid treatment and ending the federal prohibition of drugs, starting with marijuana.
Sadly, neither the House nor the Senate introduced any major or minor initiatives in federal, drug policy. I expect the same inaction in 2026. That analysis is contingent on the lack of direction from the White House. That can change overnight, as we saw with Trump directing his people to move marijuana to Schedule 3.
Financially, COP remains solvent closing the year with some $11,000 positive balance. Donations came in close to $5,000 and expenses close to $7,000. I expect those numbers to remain stable in 2026.
Personally, I am back to nearly 100% and able to walk the halls of Congress all day. I will continue to work my 2 sometimes 3 days a week for 2026. I am not sure when I will “hang up spurs” but I can see an end time
Posted February 9th, 2026 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the week of January 30, 2026
No need to apologize: Chatting with aide to a woman running for the US House, I realized later I had spoken too long. I apologized for this in a follow-up letter…She said no need…her passion is water for Nevada, and she also talks too much from time to time.
Do you know about LEAP: Eating lunch, a staffer came up and asked that question. Yes, I replied. I just happen to be a Co-Founder of LEAP. He had been heavily involved in drug war issues since 15, joining SSDP in college (Students for a Sensible Drug Policy).
The windbreaker with the message pays dividends nearly every time I wear it. Now he works as an assistant to a California democrat.
Meetings this week: 1 Grover Norquist right of center meetings
7251 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 09 this week
500 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 02 this week: Candidate for the US House from NV and one from
COP stats since inception: August 2009
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
246 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 0 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (3 UN drug conferences in Vienna, Austria), LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Media: Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, OAN, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio) Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press + 9 other MI papers. Chicago Tribune, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters, Stern
* Consider being a member of COP at $40 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 40 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 drug prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org ( to donate by Internet)
To send a check:
COP
POB 543
Buckeystown, MD 21717
Posted February 4th, 2026 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the week of January 23, 2026
Money Talks: A weekly theme at the Norquist meeting is the need to cut government spending. Apropos, a state representative to a New England state addressed this. Afterwards, I showed him a solid way to cut a half billion in yearly costs; reduce simple possession of hard drugs from a 3–5-year felony in state prisons to a one-year misdemeanor in a county jail.
I followed up with a one pager with the facts and figures.
Media contact: Also at the Norquist meeting, I met a reporter who while experienced had a new position with a major paper. I will be giving him a possible story over the weekend re the drug reform movement. Stay tuned.
Meetings this week: 1 Grover Norquist right of center meetings
7242 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 11 this week
493 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 01 this week: Candidate for the US House from Texas.
COP stats since inception: August 2009
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
245 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 0 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (3 UN drug conferences in Vienna, Austria), LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Media: Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, OAN, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio) Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press + 9 other MI papers. Chicago Tribune, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters, Stern
* Consider being a member of COP at $40 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 40 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 drug prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org ( to donate by Internet)
To send a check:
COP
POB 543
Buckeystown, MD 21717
Posted February 4th, 2026 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the weeks of January 9 and 16, 2026
Easy Sale:
All 3 of the candidates I spoke to this week at the Norquist meeting were about 50. They expressed their support for moving drugs from a criminal matter to doctor-clinic based solution. One was a nurse. She was enthusiastic about the idea. I will be sending her some facts/numbers how much can be saved in money AND improving the outcomes (lower OD and death rates).
Former police officer and now Congressman: Rare in my line of work, CMan Evans of Colorado had been a street cop for 10 years. He gave me 6 minutes to explain the COP position and better outcomes…we did agree the govt can not fix personal stupid via the police and prison. As Colorado de-felonized the simple possession of hard drugs about 6 years ago and the sun kept shining, he had experienced the ‘world did not end’ of that change.
Meetings this week: 2- Grover Norquist right of center meetings
405 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 02 this week. Rep Evans (R-CO) and brand new Rep. Grijalva (D-AZ).
7244 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 22 this week
496 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 03 this week: Candidates from Ohio and Michigan for the US House and a woman running for the state senate in MO
COP stats since inception: August 2009
118 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 this week
245 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 0 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (3 UN drug conferences in Vienna, Austria), LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Media: Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, OAN, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio) Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press + 9 other MI papers. Chicago Tribune, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters, Stern
* Consider being a member of COP at $40 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 40 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 drug prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org ( to donate by Internet)
To send a check:
COP
POB 543
Buckeystown, MD 21717
Posted December 31st, 2025 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the weeks of December 12 and 19, 2025
Karma: moving from one presentation to the next, I happened to have a long (7 minute) chat and average (2 minute) chat with 2 House Members.
Why?: Riding up the subway escalator near the Capitol, I heard a voice ask “why? ‘….she was a staffer and we ended up having an 8-minute, full presentation on the sidewalk outside Cannon..The $70 COP message jacket pays dividends every day.
Cowgirls need a hat: The speaker started her presentation telling us how there were plenty of cowgirls in her Plains State. After 30 seconds I lifted my 10-gallon cowboy off the table, offering to let her wear it…the room erupted in laughter.
Celebrate One Day, then back to work: As I am sure you read, President Trump ordered his people to move cannabis to a schedule 3, legal substance. This will generate movement in the States which have been recalcitrant to touch the issue…now back to work to move it to a descheduled drug/10th Amendment controlled policy. BTW, this is the biggest, positive change in drug policy since the DEA formed in 1971.
Cheerful News: my new, right knee is back to 97% Thus, I have decided to continue our COP tasks in the Congress/Washington DC for 2026…I am back to 9,000 steps (my average day on the Hill is about 6,000).
Season’s greetings to you and yours, howard
Meetings this week: 2- Grover Norquist right of center meetings
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 02 this week. Rep Schakowsky (D-IL) and Rep Grijalva (D-AZ)
7222 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 17 this week
493 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 03 this week: Candidate for Alaska governor, candidate for the House from Texas and the treasurer from a Plain State
118 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 01 this week =Fox News
COP stats since inception: August 2009
245 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 0 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (3 UN drug conferences in Vienna, Austria), LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Media: Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, OAN, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio) Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press + 9 other MI papers. Chicago Tribune, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters, Stern
* Consider being a member of COP at $40 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 40 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 drug prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org ( to donate by Internet)
To send a check:
COP
POB 543
Buckeystown, MD 21717
