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-Drug Policy <br /> Forum <br /> , <br /> of hawai'i .n~~ ~l ~ q <br /> r~~t J „ . <br /> <br /> tToardotl)irectors NEWS RELEASE <br /> <br /> Pamela Lichty, M.P.H. , <br /> Pretidenr CONTACT: Pam Lichty President, Drug Policy Fonstri.of Hawaii <br /> (808) 224-3056 (cell) <br /> x~B~ay (808) 735-8001 <br /> ice President info@dpfhi.org <br /> Heather Lusk <br /> Study Shows Hawaii Could Reap $33 Million <br /> Katnerine lrwiq Ph.D. by Ending Marijuana Prohibition <br /> Secretary <br /> DenemraPe~' (HONOLULU: March 1}-Up to $33 million in new revenues and cost <br /> Laity Geller savings--enough to fund the entire statewide public library system, or <br /> M;ehsel xelley, D.Phil. ensure that all dams and reservoirs in Hawaii are safe--could be <br /> s M;uer generated by a system of taxation and regulation to replace prohibition of <br /> Prof "flew Pmer. marijuana in Hawaii, a new study released today reveals. <br /> Robert Perkioson, Ph.D. <br /> University of Hawaii West Oahu Economics Professor Lawrence W. Boyd <br /> Donald Topping,PkD. concludes that ending law enforcement control of marijuana distribution <br /> Foartde~ 1919-2003 would save the $10 million spent by police and the courts each year to <br /> enforce existing marijuana laws. Instituting a system of taxes and <br /> regulations similar to that for alcoholic beverages would create both <br /> savings and new revenues of up to $23 million annually. <br /> Boyd's analysis also shows that the $10 million spent in enforcement has <br /> failed to reduce the availability of marijuana in Hawaii; in fact, marijuana <br /> prices have dropped, indicating efforts to restrict supply through law <br /> enforcement have failed. Approximately 65 percent of marijuana cases are <br /> dismissed, not prosecuted, or stricken, making the risk of arrest or <br /> punishment for marijuana use low. The full report is available online at <br /> d pfh i. org/downloads/Budget) m plication-Marijua na Decri m. pdf. <br /> "As Dr. Boyd's study shows, prohibition is an expensive and failed policy <br /> P.O.13ox 61233 that drains taxpayer dollars away from important needs in Hawai`i," said <br /> Honolulu, Hl 96839 Pamela Lichty, President of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii which <br /> . (ws) 9ae~3a6 sponsored the study. "A policy of taxation and regulation would raise <br /> Pax: leos> 373-~o6n enough money to pay for all the adult education programs and the A+ <br /> children's program combined, or run all our public libraries, or prevent <br /> Email: infoQdpthi.org <br /> Website: www.dpthi.org another Kaloko reservoir tragedy--or adequately fund substance abuse <br /> treatment programs which are proven to be far more successful in curbing <br /> drug abuse than prohibition." <br /> Dedicated to safe, responsible, and effective drug policies since 1993 I ~ 3 . n <br /> Comm. No. 'i <br /> Ref. To: ~ <br /> Ref. Uate ,IUN^ <br /> 0_ 7 <br /> Z~_ <br /> <br />