02/27/2022
Cops on the Hill:
Stories from the weeks of February 18 & 25, 2022
I had a good day: on the 23rd I made my bi-annual presentation on the state of the War on Drugs to the center-right group of Mr. Norquist. Grover asked me 4 questions during my 4 minutes, as he is keenly interested (as a Libertarian) in the topic. Some of the factoids below.
There were 4 candidates for Congress in the audience. Later I was able to speak to two of them directly. One agreed completely with the concept of drugs becoming a health issue versus criminal; the other was silent.
Weekly Activities:
3750 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 07 this week
408 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 04 this week –
93 Radio Interviews… 01 this week..central PA talk radio station
Meetings: 2 Grover Norquist center-right
1 zoom conference at CATO regarding new ideas on the he**in OD crisis
COP stats since inception: August 2009
334 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week –
208 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week.
107 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week
44 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, 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
31 major conferences attended – (UN drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
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 $40.00 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
Past: Present: Future
Past: 51 years after Nixon declared the policy - The War on Drugs has been the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery and Jim Crow
Present: one cop in 12 is a full-time narcotics officer. Every street cop is a part-time narc, as they search millions of cars each for drugs
1.5 million in prison for reasons which touch drug prohibition
WOD has been very effective as a method to cause voter suppression
WOD has been somewhat effective in suppressing the right to own a gun
37 states have med MJ; 18 states - 50% of USA population has access to legal MJ
400,000 employed in cannabis industries…roughly 25 billion in sales.
Car searches down over 50% in those state which have legalized MJ
Future:
The future is decrim which Oregon has had for a year. Results:
80% reduction in police action (tickets for simple possession)
80% reduction in vehicle searches
No reports of increase in use/nor DUI drugs/nor extra car crashes
4 states will legalize adult, MJ use this year
9 states have pending bills to go Oregon decrim
17 states have defelonized simple possession, incl OK and UT
Magic mushroom, hallucinogens are being decrimed or legalized by cities and states all over USA
