Posted November 29th, 2012 by hiwayhowie
By Steve Lathrop, Albany Democrat-Herald
The route is familiar. The message the same. Only the mode of transportation has been changed.
In 2003, Howard Wooldridge rode horseback from Savannah, Ga., across the country to Newport on the Oregon Coast to promote his belief that marijuana should be treated like alcohol. Now 60, Wooldridge is retracing the trip in reverse, this time on a bicycle.
“I was in your paper nine years ago when I came through on a horse,” said Wooldridge, who stopped at the Democrat-Herald on Monday. “It was a Paul Revere-like ride to inform America.”
He and his brother Frosty, 65, and friend Wayne Oberding, 70, set out Sunday from Newport expecting to reach their Georgia destination in about two months. He still sees himself in the Paul Revere role alerting people to his cause.
“There is a need to put an end to marijuana prohibition,” he said. “I don’t use the word legalize. I just want to get police back to the business of protecting the public.”
Wooldridge says marijuana is an individual choice and not something that the government can control. He said law enforcement efforts should be focused on public safety and protecting the innocent, especially children.
“The government can’t fix stupid,” said Wooldridge, a retired detective from Michigan. “Marijuana should be treated like alcohol.”
The trio, decked out in T-shirts promoting their trek, will be peddling up to 60 miles a day, camping most of the time. They will visit parts of 10 states.
“The hospitality on my last trip was amazing, but part of that may have been because of Misty,” Wooldridge said, referring to his horse. “I’m not expecting the same thing this time.”
Motels will likely be used every few days in order to shower and clean up. Wooldridge has no public appearances planned. He is counting on the ride alone to draw attention to the cause.
Wooldridge has been touting his cause for 15 years and is currently a lobbyist against what he calls drug prohibition in Washington, D.C.
“I’m trying to make something happen on the federal level,” he said. “I want people in each state to make their own determination about it. Let Oregon run Oregon.”
Posted November 14th, 2012 by hiwayhowie
COP in Colorado
Stories from the weeks of November 2 & 9, 2012
Right place, right time: Bob Wiley picked out a busy intersection near his home in Colorado Springs for our last effort there on Sunday. The gods smiled on us with a gorgeous day and as a bonus, an off-duty reporter happened by. She put together a first class 92 second report that first aired Sunday night. On Monday, national Fox News picked up her piece and it was shown all over Colorado and the nation. I had yet another shot from Bob’s bottle of Crown Royal whiskey. What a way to end our effort! URL here.
http://www.coloradoconnection.com/news/politics/story.aspx?id=821424#.UJvGD-RLVtk
Priorities: The victory party for Amendment 64 started at 7 PM in Denver. By then Misty and I were in Missouri. Yup, we missed a great party. My thoughts were with my long-suffering Karen in Maryland. I learned that 64 passed with 55% of the vote, just as we turned into the motel in Indiana. I gave Misty an extra pound of carrots to celebrate. The next day we arrived home, our journey and effort done.
Epilogue: Election night my thoughts drifted back to California and 2010. So, I called Richard Lee who spent 1.6 million of his own money to pass legalization with his Prop 19….which did not pass. I thanked Richard for his sacrifice of money and sweat and I declared him the father of the victories in Colorado and Washington.
Karen was happy the Cartels did not shoot me. The gun you might see on some fotos was her request to have a fighting chance, if the violence of Mexico migrated up to Colorado.
Ode to Misty: “Uh-ohh. Howard has ridden me 3 times this week. We are going someplace.” That was in August. And with that realization, Misty had to prepare herself, mentally and physically, for yet another long trailer ride and upon arrival, standing nearly motionless on one busy street corner after another. She knew that foul-smelling diesel smoke would mix with gasoline fumes to make her day less than pleasant. She knew she would be spending all night in her tight, little trailer while Howard slept at the motel. Misery was spelled: Howard-on-the-road-for- politics.
Indeed the first 16 days and nights in Colorado played out as described above. Finally Misty caught a break n/o Denver at Bo & Betsy Shaffer’s farm, when she shared a paddock w/ two llamas. Then the last 10 days in Colorado Springs area Bob Wiley secured a stall for her. She was able to sleep on the ground and really rest.
Misty has carried the anti-prohibition message on her back since 2001. She carried my little butt across America twice, while I wore the COP T-shirt. She spent two months in California for Prop 19; now one month for Amendment 64. Thru it all she did not complain, act up or be anything other than my magnificent, Texas horse & partner. Her good looks made her a TV star & our message to be seen my millions. Her calm disposition kept me alive by NOT suddenly walking into the traffic. She has done enough. I will ask no more of my Misty. She is retired from politics. I let her know, as I turned her out into the paddock back in Maryland.
Media this last week in Colorado:
One Fox TV which went national:
http://www.coloradoconnection.com/news/politics/story.aspx?id=821424#.UJvGD-RLVtk
One magazine article/foto – Colorado Springs Business Journal:
http://csbj.com/2012/11/07/amendment-64-the-real-challenge-lies-ahead-for-legalized-marijuana/
URL from last week’s paper in Pueblo: Howard Wooldridge
Howard Wooldridge. Photo by: John Jaques. Howard ‘Cannabis COP’ Wooldridge a former detective stumps for Amendment 64 on his horse Misty on the corner …
www.chieftain.com/…/image_c56139c2-c8d0-52ec-b7ac-fdfc…
Media this week:
1 Fox TV report +++ it went national on the Fox Network
2 major newspapers
Posted November 13th, 2012 by hiwayhowie
COPs in Colorado
I will vote for the horse: Several people this week said they would vote for ‘yes’ on Misty but not for Amendment 64. Maybe Misty should run for office?
We finished up northern Colorado over the weekend with time in Fort Morgan and Sterling. Loveland was a busy day at a major intersection and a one hour interview and chat with the reporter from their daily paper. The next two were in Longmont and again lots and over-whelmingly positive responses. We stayed at the home of Bo & Betsy Shaffer for 3 days. Misty was able to stay in a half acre area with two llamas. The big snow on Thursday meant i had the time to run some errands in Denver, plus see my brother and have dinner with my ‘librarian’ Karen Bury and her husband Paul. I finished the day off with a radio interview that night.
The ‘Coffin Races’ near Colorado Springs took up our Saturday. Bob Wiley, Misty and I worked the 3-4,000 strong crowd with our signs. Misty and I greeted the people as they walked towards the downtown. Just before the parade and races began, we walked to the festivities. The police officer said nothing, so we just used the sidewalk to make our way to a tiny park which afforded Misty soft shavings to stand on the next two hours. See foto….Bob and I spoke to dozens of people and several hundred took our picture. Yes, it was a bit dicey* to put Misty on a crowded sidewalk but I had faith and it went smooth as silk.
We spent Sunday splitting our day. First two hours were spent at the ‘Focus on the Family’ mega – church where 5,000 plus gather. Bob and I were able to cover the large intersection ourselves. We both noted that we had very few negative responses from this very conservative venue. After lunch we parked ourselves at the busiest intersection in Colorado Springs. Again, lots of enthusiasm and fotos taken (close to 4 per minute = above average). About five o’clock we were calling it a day, when the TV crew from ABC showed up. After an interview, Misty and I went back to the intersection to allow the cameraman 15 minutes to record how this is done. Misty certainly got an extra pound of carrots upon our return to the barn.
Note: Bob arranged for Misty to have a stall in a barn. She is sleeping on the ground = much more rested and alert during her ‘working day.’
URL for TV report: http://www.krdo.com/news/Cowboy-campaigns-to-legalize-cannabis/-/417220/17170736/-/vaj4xo/-/index.html
Media in second week:
1 newspaper
1 radio
1 TV
Posted November 12th, 2012 by hiwayhowie
COPs on the Hill
COP in the battleground state of Colorado
Stories from the week of October 19, 2012
Misty still has star power: 3 1/2 days travel brought us to Denver and a meeting with the coordinators of Amendment 64; legalize, regulate, tax marijuana. It only took a few minutes to agree to wear their orange T-shirt, when I am ‘on duty.’ We agreed to an outline of where/when I would spend the next 3 weeks. It was a pleasure to again see Brian Vincent, Mason Tvert and a nice surprise to see my former colleague from LEAP, Shaleen Title.
Next day in Fort Collins generated one excellent CBS TV interview + fotos for the local, daily paper and the college paper. Moreover, the cell phone cameras were out in force, averaging 3 fotos per minute. On the other hand, my cell phone fell off my hip and I barely found it + I left my head set/reins on the side of the road – lost forever. This experience plus some other boo-boos sobered my passion and plan to work w/o a break for 3 weeks….I am taking Sundays off….damn the too many candles on the birthday cake!
URL for TV piece: http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20121016/NEWS01/310160021
Friendly crowd? I arrived at 0830 = 3 hours before the arrival of VP Biden’s rally in Greeley. Windy and cold it was. Misty & I showed the Amendment 64 placards (see foto below), as the crowd came into the parking area. My bonus was the arrival of a national, NPR reporter who was doing a story on the 3 states who will vote to legalize marijuana. We did a 12 minute interview, allowing me to make all my major points. The local, daily paper also snapped a foto and we had a 5 minute chat. They published the foto and small article.
The group was mostly supportive, though I did receive a couple of thumbs down.
General: – It goes without saying, I am having a dozen + chats everyday with folks on the street. It is always a joy to engage and help move this terrible policy into the history books. If you feel these efforts and media exposure are worthwhile, please support Misty and me with a donation. Send to:
howard wooldridge
POB 543
Buckeystown, MD 21717
Always good for my morale: The Wall Street Journal published my LTE this week. This national, conservative newspaper continues to publish views in conflict with their editorials. On average one in ten of the LTEs I write is published. Feels good, every time. The LTE is below.
***************************
Dear Editor,
Writing as a retired Michigan detective, I fundamentally disagree with my colleague Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske’s belief that the police should be involved with drug abuse issues. Even he agrees that drug abuse is in part a health issue.
My question to him and President Obama is: what other health and medical issues should our profession inject itself into, in order to help citizens? Obesity comes to mind. Should we take into custody people who are too heavy, place them in a government facility to lose weight and become healthier? If we follow Chief Kerlikowske’s philosophy, that is where we would go. However, most police officers would rather catch bad guys.
Detective/Officer Howard ‘cowboy’ Wooldridge (retired)
Drug Policy Specialist, Citizens Opposing Prohibition
Media this week:
4 newspaper articles
1 radio interview (NPR national broadcast)
1major TV interview
Posted November 11th, 2012 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Stories from the weeks of October 5 & 12, 2012
Mundane and of value:
In this newsletter I give you the highlights of the week. Of course that is not all I do. With Congress out of session there is not much going on of great importance. Here are some examples of what I do, that I would not normally write:
Leadership Institute monthly breakfast featured author and SC talk radio host Jack Hunter. We had met several times at CPAC & we renewed our relationship. As a Libertarian, he believes in ending drug prohibition. He promised to have me on his show after the elections.
At breakfast my tablemates were two staffers from House Republican offices. We had a lively chat on drug war and prohibition, both agreed in principle with the COP objective of making it a states’ rights issue.
At a Brookings Institute seminar on marijuana policy the authors of a new legalize MJ book gave the 100 + audience much food for thought. I had a small chat with two of the panel members. Before the event started, I had an excellent conversation (in Spanish) with a professor in international affairs from George Washington University. We made contact post event and I believe this relationship will bear fruit.
On Sunday I traveled to downtown DC to attend a ‘green’ trade fair at the invitation of a COP member. I had a dozen conversations & passed out that many business cards.
Wrote several LTEs. One was published. See bottom.
This URL contains my question to the panel at the CBC conference. My question starts at the 2:08 mark (2 hours & 8 minutes) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rlyh9oA1so&list=UUIiyUkRngpU_FG2eEAcwH-Q&index=20&feature=plcp
Preparing for Colorado: Last, I spent time almost every day in the saddle exercising Misty & conditioning my butt for our month long effort to Colorado and their Amendment 64 to legalize/regulate/tax marijuana. Note: no matter how many lifetime miles in the saddle one has, it takes two weeks to not feel pain, when one has not ridden in months.
Effective Friday, October 12 I will be taking a leave of absence from COP. Misty and I will trailer out to Colorado (see foto below) to work their intersections like we did in California two years ago. A64 is ahead 51/40 & 9% undecided. We will work 3 weeks without pause to help bring A64 into the win column. A win here and in Washington State are crucial to speed up the federal process to repeal prohibition. I believe the impact of winning will generate great pressure from Mexico, etc. to end MJ prohibition.
If you would like to help out with the costs involved in this project, I am asking for donations. It takes about 20 bucks a week to keep Misty in carrots, hay and grain while on the road. I will be sleeping on couches and in Motel 5, while Misty sleeps in the trailer.
Send your check made out to me (not COP) to:
Howard Wooldridge
POB 543
Buckeystown, MD 21717
Fourth year stats for COP- August 1, 2012 thru July 31, 2013:
51 Presentations to Congressional staffers: this week
4 Radio interviews: this week
14 Blog, cable TV, minor media events: this week
2 seminar, hearing or briefing attended: this week
1 chat with Congressman: this week
10 Presentations to lesser VIPs: this week
Total stats for COP in first 3 years:
- 944 Presentations to Congressional staffers
- 26 Appearances on major TV networks
- 14 published interviews in major (daily)newspapers
- 27 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, etc
- 66 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $65,000)
- 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning my efforts & in support of COP position
- 33 brief chats with Members of Congress
- 19 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, etc.
- 10 major conferences attended (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, etc)
- Permanent invitation to Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders. Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
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- 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:
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20121009/OPINION02/710099999/-1/OPINION#Police-have-conflict-of-interest
Police have conflict of interest
Regarding the Wednesday article, “GOP U.S. Senate candidate supports legalizing pot“: Writing as a retired police detective, I know my profession in Washington earns about $1 billion (including civil asset forfeiture) chasing a green plant.
My colleagues have a conflict of interest when giving advice to Sen. Cantwell or any politician. Did the police of Washington advise the senator to oppose I-502 because they would lose good overtime, federal grants and job security, or do they truly believe marijuana prohibition is a more effective policy?
Detective/Officer Howard “Cowboy” Wooldridge (retired)
Co-Founder of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition www.leap.cc
Washington, D.C.
