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411 icenauara sneer <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> 959-6488 <br /> June 16, 1997 <br /> ' RECEN® <br /> lime-~------ 6y <br /> Honorable County Council Members ~7~~/a7.........___ <br /> County of Hawaii ~°~-'-°Counry_ Council / Fc <br /> 25 Aupuni Street <br /> Hilo, HT 96720 <br /> Dear Honorable County Council Members: <br /> I am writing to you in hopes that you will reconsider applying for the Federal Funds <br /> which will enable the eradication of marijuana to continue. I have been working <br /> with Drug Prevention Education since 1989 with the Department of Education. <br /> Throughout the years all research and studies agree that it is only with combined <br /> efforts of everyone in the community that we can win the waz against drugs. <br /> Education cannot do it alone. Parents cannot do it alone. The police cannot do it <br /> alone. "It takes the whole village to raise the child:' As a community we need to set <br /> standards for the children and send the message that the growing and use of <br /> marijuana is illegal. This message should be consistent and come from all sectors of <br /> the community. <br /> Marijuana growing has become an art, especially in these tropical conditions where <br /> the plant just flourishes. Growers, or should I say "botanists" have managed to <br /> increase the THC content from 1 - 2 percent in the 1970's to potent material up to 15 <br /> percent. The records from the Hawaii County Police should be evidence enough <br /> to demonstrate the clever efforts of these growers. Eradication of these plants is just <br /> one necessary piece of this complex puzzle to drug prevention. <br /> As a school teacher, I apply for Federal Drug Free School grants. These grants apply <br /> only for prevention, early intervention and after care education programs. These <br /> funds are limited and are often cut. Grants of these sort are great to supplement the <br /> present curriculum. However, these efforts often fall short because as I have <br /> mentioned before, we need to have other sectors of the community to support our <br /> <br /> efforts. Every agency, every community member need to be part of this effort. <br /> I know it can work. Since 1991 I have worked with the D.A.R.E. Program. This <br /> program has grown to be the finest in the state. A large part of the growth come <br /> from the dedicated D.A.R.E. Officers. Another reason for the success is that we have <br /> managed to engage various community groups to be involved in this prevention <br /> program. Hawaii County's D.A.R.E. Program consists of the police, educators, <br /> o~. » 3 sz <br /> >ro. U S.G <br /> ~ Praseah~d Fc <br /> Itet. JUN 16 t99Z <br /> <br />