[Courtesy of LEAP] Resistance is futile: “I agree we need to end the policy but how can we sell it to the District?”* These words I heard during two of the seven presentations I gave today. They reflect the constant progress, if glacial speed, I have seen since late 2005. What do I hear less of? “So, just let kids buy heroin like candy bars?!” “It is working a little bit” “Drug arrests do make a small dent!” “if we just kill every drug dealer” & my all-time favorite heard in several Republican offices, “Do you not believe that the state has an obligation to provide moral guidance? And taking drugs is immoral.” As I have said, if the aides could vote, the War on Drugs is over today. Aides often do, to a greater or lesser degree, reflect the viewpoint of the MOC. How does Howard motivate an aide to carry water to the boss? My presentation (now done 600+ times) has changed a bit, a little added, a little subtracted over two years. Below is how I know that the ‘package’ delivered made an impact. From a staffer this week in response to my thank you note: “Thank you so much, Howard! I, too, enjoyed our chat. It was nice to see you again. I look forward to expressing LEAP’s very compelling arguments to the congressman and look forward to hearing from you again soon. Best regards, Robert P.S. Very nice horse! Also, it’s very cool that you speak Spanish, French and German! Quite impressive indeed…” Riding a horse across North America and speaking three foreign languages have absolutely nothing to do with drug prohibition. What they provide is a ‘head snap’ and make the cowboy (and the issue) memorable. BTW, my new business card will have my name as Howard ‘Cowboy’ Wooldridge. I am tired of writing it on the back at conferences. Small steps