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,Tune 16. 1997 <br /> '97 JUiJ 16 Ai'~ 8 GO <br /> <br /> To: Hawai i Couni< Council, Finance Committee: <br /> S ecial Meeting. CG'~!" . <br /> p a COUNT/ ur H,~VV~II <br /> From: Ed Johnston <br /> P.O. Boy 636 <br /> Pepe'ekeo, 96783 <br /> Regarding: Comm. 311 (Res. 9~1) Marijuana Eradication Grant <br /> As 2nd Vice President ofthe Rural South Hilo Cotnmunit` Association <br /> I ioined that group's Agricultural Committee; to assist and promote agriculture <br /> on former sugar lands. A unanimous concem among these tanners is when <br /> thz~ discover patches of marijuana being grown on these fee-simple and/or <br /> leased lands. Along the Hamakua Coast this often happens in gulches near <br /> legal crops. It is a conflict. and potential liabilit<_ when you have fanners <br /> tr` ing to make a living growing taro, ginger; or papa}'a and they have to woir~ <br /> about an illegal patch of marijuana which someone has planted on propem <br /> near or within their o«n. When these illegal patches are reported and the <br /> helicopters come in to destroy the plants. that is a relief. The fanners I know; <br /> who share a common concem to eliminate- these illegal patches; share another <br /> concem-- we don't want to track do~~n and confront whoever plants a patch of <br /> marijuana. There is a great fear of retaliation. The job of eliminating the <br /> illegal patches is best left to the Police, DLNR, and National Guard. To do <br /> this job, the} need your support to provide funding to eradicate. <br /> The issue of whether marijuana should be legalized is not the issue here. <br /> The facts are that it is classified as illegal and if patches are not destm~ ed, <br /> thzrz i11 be more of them. <br /> Please continue to support the Eradication Grant. <br /> xw_ 3 i~ ~9 <br /> ate no. v£~ <br /> gd, Presented Fc <br /> e.r. >~r.__ I~IN 161997 <br /> <br />