BTW: Sometimes we do things so often, we forget how important they are..just know that every week at the Norquist brunch, I meet with citizens running for Congress. I always manage a 2 minute chat & ask for their commitment to the 10th amendment. A solid majority of the time they are on board with the 10th.
Road Trip: Jim Rubens of New Hampshire is running for the US Senate. He flew me up to Manchester for a press conference, where he announced his position on drug policy. It was nice to be asked. Rick van Wickler, LEAP’s Board President also spoke…both of us as private citizens. I flew up and back in one day.
4/20: I presented to about 40 DC-based, marijuana activists, saying give yourselves a hand for achieving 90% of your goals (they still don’t have MJ stores, due to Congressional opposition. I urged them to put on their Sunday best from now on to achieve the final goals. I asked and about 75% thought all drugs should be legalized.
This week’s stats:
2162 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. 09 this week
124 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. 02 this week Congressmen Guinta & Poliquin
198 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 07 this week
5 meetings
66 Radio Interviews.. 01 this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
62 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR)…00 this week
24 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 0this week
130 interviews and reports in minor media = 0 this week.
83 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000).. 0 this week
* 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders. Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
* Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 30 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 prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org
“I’d say they still don’t quite know what to do,” one lobbyist says.
Eric Holder was vague in saying a decision on state pot laws would come “relatively soon.”
Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday that the Obama administration still didn’t have an answer on how it would handle laws passed to legalize marijuana in Colorado and Washington state, but that it would come “relatively soon.”
Many watchers of the issue, however, tell Whispers they believe the administration is stalling.
Howard Wooldridge, a lobbyist for the pro-marijuana legalization group Citizens Opposing Prohibition, says Holder’s remarks show the White House may not have yet made up its mind.
“How this administration is going to react to Colorado and Washington… is an enigma wrapped in a nutshell surrounded by a box in a dark room at midnight,” he says. “But if I had to guess, I’d say they still don’t quite know what to do.”
The reason for the delay may also be that the administration is in a no-win position, according to Jeffrey Miron, a senior lecturer of economics at Harvard University who has done a number of studies on the legalization of marijuana and other drugs.
“They are in an awkward position. Any decision that challenges the new laws in Colorado and Washington will anger their base; any policy that allows those laws to stand will energize the Republicans,” say Miron, who previously warned that legalization of marijuana in those two states could turn into a Supreme Court battle with the federal government. Possession or use of marijuana remains a federal crime despite the new state laws.
Adding a wrinkle to all of this is that a United Nations agency this week put pressure on the administration. In an annual report released Tuesday, the International Narcotics Drug Board said the laws in Washington and Colorado go against international drug control treaties.
A group of former U.S. drug chiefs, who similarly oppose the new laws, are also upset with the delay.
“If they don’t act now, these laws will be fully implemented in a matter of months,” former DEA administrator Peter Bensinger told the Associated Press, saying the delay could cause “a domino effect” for other states to legalize marijuana.
When probed by Whispers about the reason for the delay, a DOJ spokeswoman only said the agency was “in the process” of reviewing the laws. The White House did not respond to request for comment, while the Office of National Drug Control Policy declined to comment because the issue is before the Justice Department.
The title of the Brookings seminar was “post UNGASS 2016 – what to expect.” Normally the Brookings does not disappoint..this was the exception…close to zero new info and lots of non-sequitor questions from the audience of 100… Oh well.
JV Team:? The Brookings held another seminar entitled, “Should marijuana be rescheduled?” To a full room about 150, there was a spirited presentation by both sides. Having attended dozens of such events, I was struck (confirmed by a NORML leader) how poor the anti-change arguments were. I can surmise that the pro-prohibition side finds it harder to find capable speakers who promote prohibition vs. legalize/regulate.
Cheerful News: The Senate Appropriations Committee passed a bipartisan amendment this week, 20 to 10, allowing Veterans Administration (VA) doctors to recommend medical marijuana to their patients in states where medical marijuana is legal. The vote is the second time the U.S. Senate has advanced this issue.
Six R Senators voted our way: Thanks to my GOP Senators: Daines, Murkowski, Cassidy, Alexander, Graham and Blunt. I point this out to show how folks who voted against for decades are now coming our way….BTW, Don Murphy of MPP is largely responsible for these Rs voting our way. His energy and instincts are truly awesome.
This week’s stats:
2153 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. 04 this week
122 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. 02 this week (Senator Collins, R-ME & Cman Loudermilk, R-GA)
192 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 1
Senate Hearing + 2 Brookings Institute seminar + 3 meetings
65 Radio Interviews.. 01 this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
62 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR)…02 this week (NBC twice)
24 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 0this week
130 interviews and reports in minor media = 0 this week.
83 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000).. 0 this week
* 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders. Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
* Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 30 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 prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org
Blank Stare: After sitting thru a dozen plus, mind-numbing reports from various nations on how many kilos of drugs they seized and dealers they arrested in 2015, I asked a UN official if it would be possible to have the nations report on how available illegal drugs were in that country. His complete, non-sequitor response was the same as the second UN official I asked a few hours later.
Mission Accomplished: “One size does not fit all. Every country is not exactly the same,” William Brownfield, assistant secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, said in a press briefing on Tuesday. “And we must be tolerant of the sovereign authority of a government to develop and apply the drug strategy that is most effective for their condition and their reality.”
The goal of LEAP’s involvement in Vienna was to change the treaty to allow what Brownfield articulated above. Kudos to Tip-of-the-Spear Jim Gierach, former DA of Cook County, Chicago, Illinois for his tireless efforts to achieve this goal, a journey of many years.
Sober and Practical Decision: A younger, UN official flat out said to me what I had guessed; to change the treaties in Vienna, legalize marijuana in California and elsewhere. I wrote my observations and recommendations to the LEAP Board of Directors (see bottom). This third trip to Vienna was my last, unless someone can convince me otherwise. Given the new, USA position (above) there would only be marginal reasons to return. Yes, I dearly love speaking four languages everyday and chatting with the delegates from around the world. However, this is business.
Having Fun: I stopped by the Singapore booth. The enthusiastic young man wanted to make sure I knew how his city had achieved a ‘drug-free’ environment. I asked and he admitted that the city allows the sale of the two deadliest drugs in the world; alcohol and cigarettes…..So the city is not really drug-free is it? ‘Well, Singapore is drug free, except for those two drugs.’ I do not believe he understood the irony….more like a trained seal, he was.
Personal Note: I walked over to the Vietnam table. I apologized to the rep for the two million of his countrymen we killed in the 60s and 70s ( better dead than red…we have burn the village in order to save it), agent orange, etc. His response was amazing…’although I appreciate what you said, we in Vietnam have closed that book and we simply look forward.’ We went on to chat for nearly an hour during a break in the conference. Wow!!
This week’s stats:
191 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 4 this week = UN reps
Two days at the conference in Vienna
Two meetings in DC
64 Radio Interviews.. 01 this week
Presentation to a group of 75 high school seniors from all over the country
COP stats since inception: August 2009
2149 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. this week
120 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. 0 this week
42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
62 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR)…02 this week (NBC twice)
24 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 0this week
130 interviews and reports in minor media = 0 this week.
83 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000).. 0 this week
* 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders. Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
* Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 30 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 prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org
Ladies & Gentlemen,
Thank you for the opportunity to represent LEAP at the CND this year in
Vienna. I am writing this at the airport waiting for my flight home, so
events are fresh.
Was it worth the time and money? Essentially no. Once again no country had
the guts to buck the world and openly call for change IN WRITING. I spoke
to reps from circa 24 countries. A couple of countries – Canada, Czech
Republic, Uruguay openly denounced the WOD orally but none did it in
writing, i.e. asked for a change to any of the conventions.
Moreover, it is very possible the UNODC fights to survive as an agency,
employing XXX people..illustration – the very last ‘side event’ dealt with
how much money terrorists make on the drug trade. The two economists on the
panel stated ISIS makes a minimum of two (2) billion dollars on illegal
drugs annually. Two officials of the UNODC attacked the two expert’s
conclusion and also stated that two billion was not that much money!!
OMG/Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
BTW..At this panel I was able to ask the first and only question: “If the
consuming nations legalized and regulated all drugs in a manner which would
eliminate the illicit market/sales, how much would this cripple ISIS and
the terrorists in Europe?” 20 minutes of heated, loud debate ensued.
The other reality is nations (see USA statement above) which have, are or will change their national
drug policy, they claim ’the treaty allows flexibility’ which they
interpret as including legalize a drug for non-medical use. The other line
of argument is employ the phrase – ‘respect human rights.’ As one long
standing delegate pointed out, that phrase could mean legalize/regulate,
since youth are being killed daily due to their employment in the drug
trade….and human rights trump any treaty language.
I asked several of our allies why they did not propose change (via written
language) and the response was essentially, we won’t act alone or in small
numbers. IMHO all are waiting for the USA to propose radical changes in the
treaty. The USA rep stated that law enforcement efforts are still a crucial
part of overall strategy. This in the teeth of our ONDCP Director
Botticelli who called the WOD a total failure and Obama’s comment of it
being an “utter failure.” The disconnect between the White House and State
may be/probably is a reflection of Sec. Kerry’s love of the WOD.
One UNODC and one ambassador stated that the most efficient path to make
changes in the treaties is for more US states to “go Colorado.” After three
sojourns to Vienna, I concur.
An inexact split in the countries is: 1/4 for no changes at all (Asia &
Arabic/Moslem countries), 1/4 for serious changes (Europe/Latin America) and
1/2 are neutral (probably waiting to see which way the wind blows) For
those of you who have been to the CND, yes, it remains clear as mud.
For a means to read a bit more about the conference, go to the Twitter of
#CND2016…to read the tweets of many there from NGOs
I remain very open to arguments to keep LEAP’s presence at the CND. I am
just past being a rookie at this. However, unless someone has cogent,
persuasive lines of reasoning, I am not coming back. I have more productive
things to do during those two weeks and the expenditure of 2200 dollars.
Howard
PS..to the reader = I wrote this before I knew of Brownfield’s statement
Envision an America where there are no drug dealers on sidewalks selling drugs, shooting each other and destroying neighborhoods. Imagine a world where all drugs are sold in a state-regulated store by a clerk making 12 dollars an hour. Picture a world where al-Qaeda and other terrorists do not make billions guarding the drug trade and selling drugs. Think of an America where felony crime is reduced by half which allows the police to focus on the deadly DUI, the child predator and other public safety threats. Consider the prospect of redirecting the 72 billion tax dollars currently spent chasing non-violent drug users & their suppliers. See a world where, if one day you or a loved one has a drug problem, you see a doctor not a judge.
This world is possible when we find the courage to end Modern Prohibition.
