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
Posted December 6th, 2025 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the week of December 5, 2025
Tip of the Hat: As I sat down at the big table at the Norquist meeting, I made eye contact with the woman on the other side and tipped my hat. She smiled. She turned out to be a candidate for Governor of Alaska…after the meeting we had an xcl chat on how to reduce prison costs in AK.
At the same meeting I had another good chat with head of the GOP in a SE state. Gave him how it is politically safe to reduce to a misdemeanor – simple possession of hard drugs in his state and save tax dollars.
I was on a roll. The woman who sat down on my right was from Austria and part of a group of journalists who meet monthly to discuss promoting conservative values throughout Europe. She will ask the group to invite me to participate.
A few minutes later I had a nice chat in French with a gentleman who had given us an update of what is going on in the former Yugoslavia where he now lives.
Bonus:
I had a long chat with a national Fox reporter I have seen often on that network. I ended by saying whenever Fox would bring up the drug war issue, think of what I could contribute. Best Norquist meeting ever.
Meetings this week: 1- Grover Norquist right of center
7205 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 16 this week
489 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 01 this week. Republican chairman of a state.
COP stats since inception: August 2009
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
117 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 6th, 2025 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the weeks of November 21 and 28, 2025
Timing and Luck: making the rounds, I was receiving some information from the office of Congresswoman Schakowsky, D, from north Chicago area. She was in her office and heard my “represent LE that want to make drugs a medical issue.” She popped into the reception and asked to know more…7 minutes later with her chief of staff present, she received a solid summary of the Swiss approach to heroin addiction; and getting LE out of the drug business, giving it to doctors and clinics. PS…7 minutes is a lot of time for a Member to give.
More Luck: a few minutes later I was coming out of an office, when the older (for a staffer) asked if I had received all I needed from his office. We had before and ended up ahaving a 10-minute chat on the issues. He had been promoted from staffer to Chief of Staff.
Not quite done: finished for the day, I was going down the long escalator to the metro station (well-guarded by the National Guad – ughh), when a voice above me asked why. As you know I always keep my wind breaker on which has the message “legalize heroin.” The 3 of us ended up having a 10 minute chat on the issues.
Bonus: the next day I was going to another office, when the guy asked why…he turned out to be a podcaster..we ended up doing a 10 minute interview in the hallway.
Meetings this week: 1- Grover Norquist right of center
7189 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 19 this week
488 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 01 this week. President of the NC Senate
COP stats since inception: August 2009
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
117 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 6th, 2025 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the weeks of November 07 and 14, 2025
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Must be present to win: at the Norquist meeting where I sit at the big table, a guest from North Carolina sat next to me…he turned out to be the President of the NC Senate…we had a nice chat about ending the drug war and shifting to a medical versus criminal justice approach.
It Helps: Since Covid and the rapid rise of heroin/Oxi/fentanyl deaths, the young, 25 year old staffers have noticeably been more attentive to the COP message of making drugs a medical issue. Besides helping to pave the way for major change after the Old Guard retires or dies, it helps this cowboy stay positive and engaged in one-on-one, personal contact.
It was just nice: Also at the Norquist an official of the German embassy gave us some updates of current events in her country. She made a quip about how many Americans had some German blood. So, after I was called upon, I began by saying, “Ich bin viertel Deutscher.” I went on to thank Germany for sending a brigade of soldiers and tanks to Lithuania this year; showing resistance to Russia in a very concrete fashion, finishing saying, “vielen Dank.” |
Meetings this week: 1- Grover Norquist right of center
7189 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 19 this week
488 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 01 this week. President of the NC Senate
COP stats since inception: August 2009
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
117 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 5th, 2025 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the weeks of October 24 and 31, 2025
Good moments: several times this week as I was speaking to the receptionist, a legislative aid came out of their office or a back room. They had heard my voice, knew who I was and wanted to say hello, leading to an impromptu, productive chat.
Always good to be remembered.
Appreciation: for over a month now neither the Capitol Police nor congressional staff are being paid. And they show up. In the House almost half the offices are fully staffed. And the other half it’s hit or miss.
Meetings this week: 2- Grover Norquist right of center
7179 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 17 this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
487 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 0 this week.
117 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
