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Hawaii Medical Marijuana Association (HMMA) http:/hvww.hmma.Ocatch.com Presented to: Mayor Harry Kim, July 24, 2002 Email: pastorea&Ja_ vahooxom HMMA supports all medical marijuana patients in the state of Hawaii. The recent raids on medical marijuana patients have had a profoundly negative impact on them, as patients. Most are dealing with absolutely overwhelming medical issues. Few have previous growing experience in a war zone, which is what our once beautiful state has become. Medical marijuana patients have found relief in the plant and grief in the community. Now we must fear the police, as well as the rippers. Patients need to consult with their doctors, not the police. Their right to privacy should not be violated. First and foremost, each patient needs an adequate supply of quality marijuana, not leaves or immature buds. This amount varies from patient to patient, and that fact should be respected by those in law enforcement and government. This confusion is easily cleared up. Police need to help patients, instead of harm them. We are legal growers after all, using cannabis to case suffering. The issue of mature plants is patently ridiculous. The plants follow a season and the longest season is summer. What exactly are we supposed to do when our immature plants begin to flower, just as nature dictates? They are not mature until October in any event. Most patients are scrambling to have any smokable buds, especially in the summer. A mature plant, from the point of view of the patient, is clearly one that is ready to smoke and that is at least 2-3 months after flowering begins. The police should have a hands-off approach to pulling all of our plants. Seven plants should be left alone for each medical marijuana. patient. We propose that in the last event, police could issue a simple warning that too many mature plants were found. The reason for this is simple. As soon as plants are pulled, the issue is moot. Then they become drying marijuana. To harass patients by taking their medicine using strong-arm tactics is unconscionable, whether by the police or rippers. The effect on the entire community of patients is to increase fear and mistrust. After all, we registered so that we would not have these types of problems from the government. Police should make medical marijuana patients their lowest priority since we are already legal, according to the State. One way to insure an adequate supply and to overcome rip-offs is to have a cooperative effort. Patients often fear growing in their own homes. Perhaps HMMA could be a part of establishing a safe, secure environment for patients to grow without fear from either the police or rippers. Security is of the utmost concern to all medical marijuana patients, especially after the strong-arm robbery in Kapoho, and the recent police raids. LIMA accepts donations for distribution to medical marijuana patients, as well as use it to provide emergency medical marijuana assistance. We do this quietly for the benefit of patients.