LEAP on the Hill: Stories from Week of August 15, 2008

I would like 3-5 minutes of your time: The past 5 months I have been making my second round of meetings with House staffers. Usually we met for the first time 1-2 years ago. Since they do not need a whole presentation, I just ask for a few minutes to give them some updates and renew our relationship. Many dozens of times they have engaged me in conversation and the ‘3-5 minute’ meetings turn into 20-25 minutes. As much as the ‘universe’ conspired to help Misty and me cross North America, now it seems the universe is conspiring to help me succeed in Washington. Even as ‘everyone’ tells me I have lifetime employment on this issue, I am thoroughly encouraged by the significant, positive attitude of staffers. If, IF this damn prohibition lasts another ten years, these staffers often go home to become a state rep or state senator. The LEAP message has become and will remain a part of their overall understanding of drug control strategy. Here is a note from just such a staffer: Mornin Officer Wooldridge, It was great meeting you as well. After we met I went to dinner with a guy who is a City of Chicago police officer, and I raised some of the issues that we talked about. Anyways I was surprised to find out that he shared your feelings. Unfortunately, I’m not the one with the vote, but we can take baby steps and steer our nation’s drug policy in the right direction. Indeed ‘small steps’ are taken everyday, often unseen/unknown by me. Help Send Howard back to Texas: As you know, I am working hard to eliminate the need for LEAP. To that end I would like your help. Via Jerry Epstein in Texas idea, I want to begin dropping off to Member of Congress offices articles that appear in local papers that touch the issue. Please send me either electronically or cut out the article and send to me (I will play mailman). Articles should include anything that shows the financial or emotional burdens, police misconduct (drug raid on wrong house, corruption, etc) or really anything which shows that modern prohibition is the most dysfunctional, immoral policy since slavery. When in doubt, send it please. The concept is simple. Make sure the politicians know what their constituents are reading. It is also a great excuse to drop by the office. Staffers (even those I never met) remember the hat, my business card is attached to the article and so on and so on. PS. For you bean counters I have made about 700 presentations since the fall of 2005.