COM 0140.082 2000-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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STATEWIDE MARIJUANA ERADICATION TASK FORCE HA:vAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT A. PROBLEM: Marijuana cultivation within the County of Hawaii continues to be a significant, ongoing problem, and a major concern to law enforcement within the County and State of Hawaii. Unfortunately, since the early 1980's to the present, Hawaii gained a reputation of being a major "Source State" for high quality marijuana ranging in price from 5400 to 5600 an ounce. National statistics show that Hawaii ranks among the top three states in the amount of "cultivated" marijuana grown and recovered. In 1995, Hawaii was number three in the nation, in the amount of "cultivated" marijuana plants recovered, following Kentucky and California (numbers one and two respectively). In 1996, Hawaii was number one, and in 1997, number two, following Tennessee. In 1998 Hawaii again ranked first. In 2000, the Statewide Marijuana Eradication Task Force, consisting of the four (4) County Police Departments, as well as other Federal and State law enforcement agencies, seized and/or destroyed 467,546 "cultivated" marijuana plants. The County of Hawaii accounted for 106,639 of the total. The County of Hawaii continues to lead the State in illegally cultivated marijuana. The vast land area, a lot of which are in remote subdivisions and undeveloped land, as well as ideal weather conditions, provides ideal growing territories and conditions for marijuana cultivators. In the past, Law Enforcement received reports from the public, some of who are hunters, farm workers, and hikers, ..'ho were confronted and threatened by persons with weapons. These innocent citizens are warned to stay away from the area, or to "not disturb their crop." More currently, hunters and hikers continue to report sightings of marijuana cultivation. These types of incidents are infrequent, but they still occur, and are indicative of the methods and means the marijuana cultivators resort to, and the value they place on their "crop." There are other documented accounts or incidents that have taken place, whereby crimes of violence, threats, harassments, and property crimes have occurred due to conflicts resulting from "rip offs" or "territorial rights." Another primary concern to law enforcement is the increase of marijuana consumption among Hawaii's youth. The 1998 Hawaii Student Alcohol and Drug Use Study conducted by the Hawaii