Posted September 8th, 2024 by hiwayhowie
Not hanging up my Spurs, yet:
In the past nearly 18 years on the Hill I have worn out two sets of boot leather and had to switch to comfortable walking shoes. Five years later my right knee barked “no más = no more.” I am currently seeing various doctors for the okays to have it replaced. The timetable is about 1 December (luckily the wait time is only about 3 months)..
The timing is good in that Congress will soon be out of session for the rest of the year…as you know 0.0 is done during October and after the Nov.5 election…with a good recovery I should be ready to go, when Congress opens a new session on January 3, 2025.
I am a bit melancholy about this situation. Yes, the seasons change and life changes and we do not stay 25 forever. Still,……
I’ll keep you posted from time to time about the knee and any events… During my vacation I expect to have a meeting in mid-October in Switzerland with the government doctor in charge of their heroin treatment program.
This Week:
01 meeting.. Grover Norquist center-right meeting
COP stats since inception: August 2009
6081 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 0 this week
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
476 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: 01 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 September 5th, 2024 by hiwayhowie
Small Matter: On my brief description of each Member of Congress, I include their Year of Birth. Especially with Republicans, those under 60 are much more receptive to the COP message.
Very slow last full week of recess..many offices only had the receptionist.
At the bottom is a longer explanation from my last newsletter regarding the federal politics of marijuana and why nothing is being passed..a COP member asked for it.
This Week:
6081 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 10 this week
0 meeting.. Grover did not have a meeting this week.
COP stats since inception: August 2009
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
476 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: 01 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
Why Congress has not repealed the 1937, marijuana prohibition law.
Well, it is a sad story that started five years ago. Early 2019 we did a whip count in the House and Senate and found out we had enough folks in both chambers to end the federal prohibition of marijuana, using a clean, simple 1 page law. (STATES Act)
Immediately, our friends at DPA, MPP, NORML and Others told democratic Leadership to slow down and not take a vote. Then they wrote up a 38-page bill called the MORE act which is so full of social ideas that no Republican will vote for it.
Their justified fear is that they would lose their job as a federal, marijuana lobbyist. Also, their organizations would suffer significant loss of contributions. You may know this has already occurred now the last 12 years, as state after state legalizes marijuana, contributions from that state drop off significantly. That is why there have been office closings and layoffs in everybody’s organization. COP Lost half of its yearly budget when I told former Dallas Cowboy, 5-time all-pro Mark Stepnoski that we had everything we needed in Washington to repeal the 1937 law and now Schumer is holding it back. His major interest was to end marijuana probation, and that essentially has been done in terms of support for a clean, simple one page bill. He has diverted his funding to Texas, marijuana reform. God Bless.
I do receive literature from the Democratic Party and Schumer specifically. It states in a nutshell; you need to vote for Democrats because we will legalize marijuana. And then give us $100 so we can be elected.
If they legalize marijuana, Schumer and the Democrats would no longer have a slogan to use to raise money and get votes. It is that simple and ugly.
In 2024 there are X number of marijuana industry lobbyists in DC. In terms of marijuana lobbyists to legalize it for social reasons, as far as I know, there’s only me and Don Murphy who is paid by a private individual these days. Unlike 2019, the whole gang does not get together every six weeks for a soirée, exchange ideas and info. I know Michelle does lobbing for the NCIA and after that I have no idea who the industry people are. NCIA laid off two or three of their lobbyists and I believe Michele is the only one now.
In the spring of 2019, I was so depressed to learn all this shit that I took off for two weeks to clear my head
From the Swamp, howard
Posted September 5th, 2024 by hiwayhowie
Prohibition Strategies persist: I had an excellent chat with a staffer I have known for several years. He was proud that his Member had introduced yet more legislation to “get tough” on dealers and smugglers of Fenty. He believed that the illegals were bringing it across the river.
Painfully, I gave him the info that in 2023 per the Border Patrol – 86% of the Fenty found at the border was caught at a POE (port of entry) in American cars and trucks and driven by Americans.
Note: I did not go to the Capitol last week, following the guidelines for covid
COP stats since inception: August 2009
This Week:
6059 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 14 this week
1 meeting..Grover Norquist center-right
Activities since August 2009:
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
476 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: 01 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 September 5th, 2024 by hiwayhowie
RAGBRAI Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa 2024
383 Miles in 7 days over a bunch of 4-6 minute hills was a workout. The time was filled with having a chat every 8 minutes, as someone would ask why cops would legalize heroin…I drank an average of 2 quarts of water, Gatorade daily while pedaling and another quart before bedtime 9 PM…Probably my last year on a non-electric bike…legs were fine, my neck was the weak link.
A 35-year-old asked a lot of questions before he informed me that he was an Iowa State Trooper the last 7 years…we had the longest chat of the Ride = 10 minutes. Before he pedaled away (I had 50 pass me before I passed someone), he said,” I don’t disagree with anything you said.” High praise and was an indicator of the response by 348 others….except another cop just screamed at me as he rode quickly past, “dumbest F***ing Idea I ever heard of. ”
About 20,000 rode this year from most states and several, many countries.
NOTE: I came down with Covid the day after we finished…knocked me down for 5 days….all good now on Friday (mild symptoms, like the other two times)
COP stats since inception: August 2009
0 meetings:
6045 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 0 this week
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0
476 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: 01 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 September 5th, 2024 by hiwayhowie
Young Republicans are Different: I attended a Bi-Partisan press conference outside of Congress on Wednesday. Two Rs and 2 Ds, all combat veterans who spoke of the miracle of magic mushrooms, MDMA, etc making them normal, human beings again. A female Marine was the emcee. It was gratifying that their unity to help our veterans with this tried and true treatment (the Israelis have been using it for 40 years).
There is still great, institutional resistance which is being overcome in this area.
Note: I over-stressed myself training earlier in the week and “called in sick” on Thursday.
I will be on another Iowa bicycle trip next two weeks, chatting with 29,000 bikers, as we go from river to river, 420 miles in 7 days…Hopefully, I’ll chat with a lot of folks and not end up being an F O R D….found on roadside dead
Back in August..
01 meetings: Press Conference at the House Triangle
6045 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 0 this week
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0
COP stats since inception: August 2009
476 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: 01 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
