When Howard received, "Misty at Liberty" he said to McCool, "I am deeply touched. I look forward to looking at it everyday. You captured the essence of the ride."

Stories from the weeks of July 11 & July 18, 2008

Soirée in the Land of Enchantment: Karen and I flew to Santa Fe, New Mexico on the 9th at the invitation of Sallie Bingham. Good food and conversation flowed for 3 hours as like-minded citizens met to share stories and support the Drug Policy Alliance. Misty donated about 14 books to anyone who contributed. Her hoof print signature graced the inside cover.

Karen and I enjoyed 2 and one half days traveling by car in New Mexico. We enjoyed the magnificent landscape as we played tourist and scouted possible retirement locations. Me retire??!! Yikes!!

Booked: I am scheduled to make a presentation to ‘by invitation only’ group of VIP conservatives this July 30th. Grover Norquist, Executive Director of Americans for Tax Reform made the arrangements. I am excited.

Howard – radio host: My brother Frosty has a twice weekly, one hour radio program. As he went on vacation, he asked me to host it on the 8th. I had two guests, Richard Mack and Paul Armentano. LEAP speaker Sheriff Mack spoke passionately of his opposition to policy & specific problems it causes in Arizona. NORML deputy (Continue)

Restore justice in America; construct science based drug policies about saving and rehabilitating instead of ruining lives. Support for the federal war on drugs is inconsistent with support for individual freedom, constitutional government and the teachings of Jesus.

James Madison, the primary author of the Constitution of the United States, said this: "We have staked the whole future of all our political constitutions upon the capacity of each of ourselves to govern ourselves according to the moral principles of the Ten Commandments."

"In the end, however, no constitution can be self enforcing....For the Constitution will live only if it is alive in the hearts and minds of the American people." Roger Pilon, senior fellow and director of CATO's Center for Constitutional Studies.

The Cato Institute offers copies of its popular Constitution booklet. Phone Order: 1-800-767-1241

Howard speaks all over the country with a program to end prohibition and the “War on Drugs.” Many other former law enforcement speakers against the war are available at LEAP. If you have a drug horror story or situation in your community, please email Howard or McCool so we may bring your story to the nation.

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SWISS HEROIN-ASSISTED TREATMENT 1994- 2008: SUMMARY

Overview: Due to the severe drug problem in Switzerland in the early 1990s, (rising number of injection drug users, visibility of open drug scenes, AIDS epidemic, rising number of drug related deaths, poor physical health, high criminality) the Swiss made a fundamental shift in approaching the problems caused by heroin addiction. The Swiss offer treatment-on-demand. Of an estimated 22,000 addicts, 16,500 are in treatment and 92% are given daily doses of methadone at conventional clinics. The Swiss treat about 1300 addicts with maintenance doses of heroin via 23 special clinics operating in cities and two prisons. The Swiss approach has resulted in lower rates of crime, death, disease, a drop in expected new users as well as an improvement in mental and physical health, employment and housing. The program has been copied by six countries: Germany, Holland, Belgium, England, Spain and Canada.

* To qualify for a heroin prescription: 1) at least 18 years old; 2) been addicted (daily use) for at least two years; 3) present signs of poor health; 4) two or more failed attempts of conventional treatment (methadone or other); 5) (Continue below)

(SWISS HEROIN-ASSISTED TREATMENT continues)

Surrender drivers license; 6) Heroin can only be obtained at the clinic and must be consumed on site (oral or injection). (Note: Under strict control and specific criteria [for example full employment] a few are allowed to take one oral dose daily away)

Patients can receive up to three doses of heroin per day. 60% take the heroin via needle injection, the rest via pill. The use of the oral pill is increasing.
Patients average about three (3) years in this plan. However, they may stay in treatment indefinitely. 20% of original patients are still in the program.
The vast majority of patients are satisfied or very satisfied with the program.
Average age of patient: 38 years.

*Crime Issues: 60% drop in felony crimes by patients. 82% drop in patients selling heroin.

*Death Rates: No one has died from a heroin overdose since the inception of the program. The heroin used is inspected for purity and strength by technicians.

*Disease Rates: New infections of Hepatitis and HIV have been reduced for patients in the program.

*New Use Rates: Lower than expected. 1) As reported in the Lancet June 3, 2006, the medicalisation of using heroin has tarnished the image of heroin and made it unattractive to young people. 2) Most new users are introduced to heroin by members of their social group and 50% of users also deal to support their habit. Therefore, with so many users/sellers in treatment, non-users have fewer opportunities to be exposed to heroin, especially in the rural areas.

*Cost Issues: 48 dollars/day: Patients pay from zero to 12 per day depending on their ability. Note: About 30% of patients work for a living and pay part of the costs. Note: The Swiss save about 30 dollars per day per patient mostly in lowered costs for court and police time, due to less crime committed by the patients.

** This summary was taken from five published reports. The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health reviewed and approved its release. Additional questions should be directed to Dr. Dora Fitzli, the science and health advisor to the Swiss Ambassador at the Embassy. Her English is near native fluency. Tel: 202-745-7954

NOTE: This summary was researched and written by Howard J. Wooldridge of LEAP.

Who Supports the Drug War?

Ossama Bin Laden, President George Bush, The Ochoa Brothers, Congressman Mark Souder, Mexican Drug Cartels, DEA, FARC, National Association of Narcotics Officers, Canadian Cannabis Growers Association, Pharmaceutical Industry, Al Qaeda, Private Prison Association, Meth Makers of Mexico Association, John Walters (USA’s Drug Czar), MS-13 drug gang, California Narcotic Officers’ Association, Crips & Bloods, Deputy Chief Thomas Gorman of California, Pablo Escobars’ Amigos, Congressman Duncan Hunter, Columbian Coca Growers Association, Senator John McCain et al, Fundamentalist Christian Association, The Washington Post, The New York Times, Newsweek, Time

See a pattern here? Ever wondered why it has been so difficult to make even small changes in our policy of prohibition AKA War on People? The 10 major organizations which are trying to end the New Prohibition have a total budget of about 25 million dollars. The drug companies which fear God’s medicine, AKA marijuana, put that much in the freezers of politicians to stifle competition. Does Al Qaeda contribute to the Republican Party? If opposition to the Drug War continues to grow, Al Qaeda would be advised to funnel cash to prohibition politicians. Prohibition puts 3 billion in OBL’s hands every year. Putting 100,000 into a freezer is chump change compared to losing billions.

The California Narcotic Officers Association fears the loss of their paychecks, knowing that the sensible People of California would legalize, regulate and tax marijuana the day after the feds end the National Prohibition. Even if they did not lose their paychecks, they would be reassigned to go after drunk drivers, child predators and other public safety threats. That type of work is boring compared to kicking in a few doors a week, waving their guns around and arresting people. Heaven forbid they would have to take a stolen bicycle report!

MS-13 gang makes billions selling illegal drugs in the USA. They would not be happy to see the end of Prohibition. They would have to go back to landscape jobs! President Bush supports the Drug War to keep his Pharma Industry lobbyists happy. He views the weekly deaths of young teens who die selling these drugs on the sidewalk as ‘God’s Will.’ So no problem there. Mexican drug cartels enjoy the finest tequila and tacos in Mexico on the money they are making. As a bonus, their narco-dollars buy them influence at the Presidential Palace in Mexico City. The private prisons in the USA lobby for more mandatory drug sentences in order to keep their cash flow coming. The Meth Makers of Mexico make billions exporting their product into the US and Canada.

Congressman Mark Souder supports the Drug War because he uses it to get re-elected. “I am getting tough on drugs!” He has convinced the voters in Indiana that the 2nd trillion dollars spent on this policy will result in drugs being slightly less available to their kids. Ditto Congressman Duncan Hunter who has convinced his California constituents of the same thing. Our Drug Czar John Walters simply likes his government job with all the perks of flying around the world saying how much progress was made this year. He reminds me of General Westmoreland during the Vietnam War and body counts.

The growers of BC Bud are making billions exporting to the US the most potent pot on the continent. That industry now employs more people in British Colombia than mining or forestry. The Crips and Bloods make billions as a vertical monopoly buying in bulk and employing their members for the retail sales. Experts say that the economy of several large cities would collapse without the cash that the dealers generate for their home neighborhoods. FARC (guerrillas of Colombia) have been making billions protecting the Coca Growers of Colombia Association. FARC uses their profits to wage war on the Bogotá government.

Fundamentalist Christians are adamant that God believes the Drug War is just and righteous and that Jesus would also support it. Right. Jesus would put a cocaine user in the hell hole of a Texas prison for two years. NOT. ‘But it is immoral to use these drugs’ they say with indignation. When confronted with the fact that young teens die every week because the policy employs a million teens, they usually blame the parents for the deaths, not their support for the policy. Native Americans have used mind-altering substances for centuries. Is the Christian religion superior to their beliefs to the point that Indians should go to jail? NOT! WWJD?

The Washington Post, the New York Times, Newsweek, Time and US News & World Report all support prohibition. Could it be they do not want to upset the drug makers who take out 3-4 full page ads for their drugs? Money talks.

As you can see, the supporters of Prohibition Two are numerous and well-funded. Nonetheless, I will use my one-eyed horse Misty and my Stetson to promote the end of the most dysfunctional, immoral policy since slavery until it is in the history books, or I draw my last breath.

written by Howard J. Wooldridge

If you have 47 minutes: go to PRESSTV.

Click on ‘Programs’ located on the left side of the homepage near the top.

Click on ‘American Dream’

Click on 21 February: Human Rights in the US

US Representative Barney Frank has filed a bipartisan federal bill to legalize "small amounts" of marijuana and make room for serious criminals. Representative Ron Paul is a cosponsor. This Texas straight talker says we are "politicizing pain." Ask your Congressperson to cosponsor, "The Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act"- HR 5843.

If they are hard line drug warriors, ask them to at least support the “Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act”- HR 5842 which would allow the medical use of marijuana in states that have chosen to make its use for medical purposes legal with a doctor's recommendation. The debate over medical marijuana or cannabis is really a scandalous controversy over whether this very easy-to-grow herb should be allowed to compete with pharmaceuticals for pennies on the dollar.

Harassing the sick and dying is an un-American activity.

Commissioned Art - Paintings and Sketches

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Issue II, Volume II

This issue…

Make the LEAP
Volunteer of the Month
Did you Know?
LEAP on Capitol Hill
State by State
Campus Communities/ What People are Saying About LEAP
Making Media
International Overtures

Make the LEAP

Following the announcement that Damage Done: The Drug War Odyssey had become available on DVD in the LEAP Store, many of our members rushed to order their copies. The DVDs are on their way… and a great, simple way to take action is to recommend the film to others. If you haven’t yet ordered a DVD and would like to, you can do so by visiting the LEAP Store.

Continue

Volunteer of the Month

Don’t Mess with Texas – Jim Kilpatrick has made a decision to bring change to his state. He began booking speaker Russ Jones around Austin, Texas and didn’t stop there. Jim managed to book gigs for Mike Gilbert and Dean Becker as well. This month he isn’t thinking only of Texas; he is also working to book Mike Gilbert in Alaska. Since coming on board as a LEAP volunteer, Jim has put speakers in front of an average of five audiences a month.

Did you know?

June 17, 2008 marked the 37th anniversary of the day former President Richard Nixon declared illegal drugs “public enemy number one” and announced his “War on Drugs”. Today, the War on Drugs metaphor continues to haunt us. As Laura Carlsen writes in her article “Militarizing Mexico: The New War on Drugs”, published July 12, 2007 in Foreign Policy in Focus, “with the metaphor of “war”, the president transferred responsibility from state and local governments, where the emphasis was on treatment of illegal drug use within the framework of a community or health problem, to federal coordination that addressed treatment but also established special enforcement agencies directly under the presidential mandate. The U.S. model not only served to bolster the presidency, it has also proven useful as a tool for geopolitical control abroad. By elevating drug trafficking to a matter of national security, the war on drugs model has led to U.S. intervention in the politics of both drug-producing and transit nations. It has been used to justify the militarization of whole regions of foreign nations (Colombia), invasions to oust inconvenient foreign leaders (Panama), and now the extension of the U.S. security agenda into a neighboring country (Mexico).

LEAP on Capital Hill

Contributed by DC Education Specialist, Howard Wooldridge

Washington, DC hosts many national and international conferences. Recently I attended three: GOAL (Gay Officers Action League), Break the Chains and the ACLU membership conference. Six years after LEAP’s foundation, I was gratified to see how many people already knew of our organization and its mission to end the Modern Prohibition.

At the GOAL conference I was struck by the stories of gays who ‘came out’ and the similarities that LEAP members have ‘coming out’ against the War on Drugs. LEAP, of course, still allows for ‘stealth’ membership, since being openly against prohibition could hurt or perhaps even destroy a law enforcement career. As the French say, “Plus ca change, plus reste la même chose” (the more that changes, the more that stays the same). Perhaps a slight majority who heard my presentation agreed with the LEAP mission, many did not. Privacy issues are important to all adults, but many, too many, still cling to allowing the government to enter our homes and arrest us for putting something in our mouth the government does not approve of.

Break the Chains conference featured two of our speakers, Matthew Fogg and Judge Billy Murphy. They spoke simply and forcefully for legalization. Few openly agreed with them, but all attendees agreed that the War on Drugs causes many problems. The pastor of a large Baltimore church and I had a long discussion. After 30 minutes of talking, he is not sure if he supports the War on Drugs anymore. One at a time.

I proudly wore my LEAP t-shirt at the ACLU Conference which resulted in dozens of little chats of why and how to end modern prohibition. Naturally, the listeners agreed and enthusiastically supported the LEAP message. Wearing the shirt and cowboy hat helped me stick out like a sore thumb which meant the vast majority of the two thousand attendees at least read the message.

Although our issue has not yet caught fire at the national level, we are all laying the foundation to turn it into a bonfire when it does.

LEAP State by State

When the director of the Hammer Museum, located in Los Angeles on the UCLA campus and founded by the famous Armand Hammer family, called to ask for speakers for a forum on the lost war on drugs, LEAP jumped at the chance to send two of its best, California Judge Jim Gray, author of “Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed and What We Can Do About It: A Judicial Indictment of the War on Drugs” and retired Seattle Chief of Police Norm Stamper, author of “Breaking Rank: A Top Cop’s Expose of the Dark Side of American Policing”. The addition of Marc Mauer of the “The Sentencing Project” morphed the forum into a discussion of America’s Prison State and its roots in Prohibition. While in California, Norm made a number of appearances including an interview with the Reason Foundation TV outlet.

Even if the presidential candidates aren’t talking about the War on Drugs, the people who comprise political parties have made it a priority. Terry Nelson spoke to a partisan group in Ft Worth, Texas about the tactics we are using to end prohibition; while Jack Cole spoke to a partisan group in Boston, Massachusetts and Tony Ryan addressed a local club in Sioux Falls, North Dakota. LEAP staff member Barb Humphrey was honored as Party Member of the Year for her home community of Syracuse, New York; she used the opportunity to introduce influential community members to LEAP.

Mike Gilbert is making the rounds in the San Antonio, Texas area as he prepares for his big trip to Alaska in July. The Alaskan Drug Policy Forum is hosting a two week tour of the state that will include time in Anchorage and Fairbanks.

Watch the LEAP events page online for details on all the LEAP events.

Campus Communities

Prior to colleges and universities dismissing for the summer, LEAP speakers were keeping busy on campus:

One of LEAP's rising stars, Richard Van Wickler, made a presentation to nearly 30 students at the University of Connecticut this past April 15, 2008. The presentation was sponsored by UConn's chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy. Daniel Cornelius, the SSDP chapter president at UConn, said "Van Wickler gave an exciting, provocative, and interactive presentation. He was informed, knowledgeable, and prudent about the necessity of drug legalization to alleviate the problems related to the illegal black market, poverty, and urban decay."

On April 9, Matthew Fogg spoke to a large audience at Virginia Tech in Blackstone, VA hosted by the school’s chapter of SSDP. Fogg's presentation emphasized the racial discrimination that drives the drug war and students were highly receptive, many staying after the presentation to speak with Fogg. "I think that when law enforcement is speaking out against the War on Drugs, it's a clear sign that the issue should be discussed more seriously," said Kris Reinertson, SSDP President.

LEAP’s Executive Director Jack Cole presented to students at Boston College and Harvard Law School on April 3rd. Both presentations were well attended and received. Jason Langberg who helped organized the event at Boston College said "Cole's presentation brought over 50 students, an excellent turnout given the small size of our school. Mr. Cole was very informative and inspiring."

Making Media

Jim Doherty and Matt McCally flooded the airways in Portland, Oregon in June. Jim did a live interview for CATV Channel Freedom TV Show and spoke on KUIK 1360 AM Jeff Kropf Show. Matt McCally gave some time to the KBOO More Talk Radio Show, broadcast throughout the region.

You can catch LEAP speaker Terry Nelson on Cultural Baggage each week. Cultural Baggage is part of the Drug Truth Network, a media production organization based at KPFT Radio Houston and operated by LEAP speaker Dean Becker. Dean’s shows boast 21 affiliates around North America. From Powell River, British Columbia to Pomona, New Jersey, Dean regularly astounds audiences with his frank approach to the nation’s drug policy and his balanced guest list. The show archives include most of the LEAP speakers and an incredible list of guests.

What do the Vancouver Sun (British Columbia), The Province (British Columbia), the Omaha World Herald (Nebraska), the Denver Post (Colorado) and the Arizona Republic (Arizona) have in common? They’ve all printed Opinion pieces from LEAP speakers recently.

LEAP staffer Mike Smithson also started a dialogue in print by doing an impromptu interview with the Ledger-Enquirer in Columbus, Georgia. The article got the attention of several locals who generated printed Letters to the Editor. The Ledger-Enquirer then allowed Mike to write a rebuttal piece, where he encouraged Columbus to hold a community forum. This exchange kept drug policy front and center for over a week. Our special thanks to the Media Awareness Project, Inc for archiving our media efforts.

International Overtures

In May, Hans van Duijn joined LEAP. Van Duijn recently retired as the chairman of the large Netherlands Police Union NPB. He recently received quite a bit of media attention when he stated that Dutch cops should be allowed to smoke cannabis.

Later in May, the supporters of Vancouver’s InSite, the only safe injection site for IV-drug users in North America, asked us to take the stage in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada for a national press conference. Speakers came from three countries to show support for harm reduction measures. The event was a media success and LEAP benefited from one of its biggest media days ever. At least 5 national stories appeared and numerous other regional efforts occurred. Website hits went thru the roof—more than 130K in one day. That’s an increase of 160%.

A week later, John Tommasi had his bags packed for Budapest, Hungary. The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union has fostered an aggressive effort to end drug prohibition, and understands the value of involving LEAP. The HCLU hosted a seminar called “Connections”; achieving great attendance with participants from 7 countries discussing drug prohibition policies. Specifically, they wanted to hear LEAP's position on legalization and explore ways law enforcement officials deal with harm reduction programs in the current drug prohibition regime.

In 1998, Kofi Annan gave a toast at the United Nations 20th General Assembly Special Session on drugs, basically stating that a UN 10-year goal would be the eradication of drug crops by 2008. Ten years later, this July 7th in Vienna, Austria, the United Nations will host “Beyond 2008”, another special conference to discuss the measurable results at reaching the aforementioned goal. Jack Cole will be attending as the representative of our NGO. Officially recognized by the UN, non governmental organizations, or NGO’s, have special access to UN delegates.

We need YOUR help to continue doing all that we do.

If you aren’t already, please consider volunteering your time or donating to LEAP. Together we can End Prohibition Now!

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LEAP on the HILL continues

director Paul Armentano educated the audience on the practical uses of medicinal cannabis.

I have been interviewed over 100 times by radio. It is fun. However, it is definitely a separate skill to be the interviewer. It is work.

Concerned Senator: Jim Webb (D-VA): Bob in Colorado sent me the link to Senator Webb’s remarks, as Webb opened the 2nd Senate hearing on Mass Incarceration. Senator Webb is the first MOC to call for hearings on our issue, EVER.

Boy Scout motto: be prepared: Upon my arrival in DC, my mentor, Eric Sterling advised me to always be ‘camera ready.’ In this town one never knows where or when a camera will shine on you or you meet a VIP unexpectedly. Thus I was in coat and tie on Wednesday evening at the Heritage Foundation event, though half the 100 gathered were w/o coat and tie. I engaged in conversation a person who had asked a question during the Q& A session. An hour later we exchanged business cards & a commitment to go to a shooting range and target practice (pistols). He was a fellow Texan and an advisor to President Bush. Thanks Eric.

Note: before the program began, I was chatting with a retired oil executive. Upon learning I had been in Egypt, he asked, “Enta tatkallem Arabi?” I whipped off two decent sentences in Arabic. He wants me to speak to his Republican Club in Virginia. It was fun. Like riding Misty, speaking foreign languages is fun, a pleasant diversion and helps keep me from burning out.--------------------------------------------by Howard "Cowboy" Wooldridge

Testimony for the Joint Economic Committee

June 19, 2008

Assessing U.S. drug policy

and providing a base for future decision

Howard J. Wooldridge

Bath Township, MI Police Detective Howard J. Wooldridge, (retired)

At the hearing of the Joint Economic Committee which Senator Webb chaired on June 19, 2008 two questions asked by the Members were not fully answered. Therefore, I would like the following information be included as part of the record for that hearing.

Regarding Senator Webb’s question on how the expenditure of time to arrest some 845,000 persons per year on marijuana charges impacts other areas of law enforcement: During my fifteen (15) years of police service I learned that my profession often searches and does not find anything illegal. Thus, one can not simply extrapolate the number of arrests times X hours of time per arrest. An average of ten (10) vehicle searches must be conducted in order to find one containing marijuana. Conservatively, 7-8 million hours of patrol time are spent enforcing marijuana prohibition laws. This results in less time for effective DUI, reckless driving and other traffic enforcement priorities.

Regarding Congressman Hinchey’s question of the percentage of prisoners whose crime touches in someway drug prohibition laws: My experience as a detective and in speaking with colleagues show 70-75 % of felony crime touches drug prohibition policy.

Whether crimes committed go up or down, drug prohibition continues to be the engine driving the vast majority of felony crime in America.