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<br /> 06!01!2007 10:24 7753542378 LESYMAE F'PGE 01
<br /> Matthew l3ritrain, LCSW, DCSW
<br /> PO Box 1038 ~
<br /> Kuttistown,TT196760 T~'~`t + ~;t1 ~
<br /> 808-968-7104
<br /> f"
<br /> June lx`, 2007 i '
<br /> Dear County Council:
<br /> 'T'his testimony is to certify my support for the termination of the marijuana eradca.tior. Ur;~;rEnt
<br /> in Hawaii County.
<br /> As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker it is my duty to advocate for political char~Q,.; at ~:Ir ss
<br /> issues that affect society. in this case it is my professional opinion that the harm cau:~r.d `t;y I} e'
<br /> helicopter missions to attack marijuana and marijuana growers/users is more harmf I rh,,n , he
<br /> effects of the mazijuana itself. I hold this belief based on several observations:
<br /> 1) Marijuana is much less harmful than the other illegal drugs in comp' Cn a.+: ;,ueh n;
<br /> methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, illegal use of prescription drugs lil;~, ~:rciatr;s and
<br /> stimulants.
<br /> 2) Marijuana is much less harmful than at least two of the other legal ~3 nt; t :u rCr only
<br /> used in society, alcohol and nicotine.
<br /> 3) It is my professional observation, over the course of 20 years of mental Ira3ldt .oerrice
<br /> in Hilo, that as the marijuana eradication program has progressed, and t te. e~ n,a ntt: of
<br /> marijuana has decreased, wi th a currespunding iuurease im the cult c f uroni ij r;ESi t, u:,e
<br /> of methamphetamine has increased dramatically.
<br /> used upon these facts (see fact sheets attached) and observations, the Harm Rechu;<i~ e n rut d a of
<br /> substance abuse prevention/treatment dictates that availability to less harmful dr r rs (cnu'iit ana,
<br /> in this case) rte made, such that use of the more harmful drugs (methamphetamnu;., a(xs iror, artd
<br /> heroin} may decline. Please see a very thorough description of the Hann Reductcri a o,d:a
<br /> attached, as detailed by Mark Willenbring, MD, and pnhlished in the Rcyrhinrr,~: 1 i:r. a.e, T't
<br /> summarize, the Hann Reduction Model bases the needs of society as paramount ar'.I ~srs
<br /> public health approach, rather than criminal punishment, on the use of drugs. As si c1 1 s~:Ei;g esr
<br /> that the marijuana eradication progam be terminated. Mechanics and mazket forces ~+i;l ~~+~trk in
<br /> the following ways:
<br /> 1) Drug users in society will seek out and use the most cost-effcctive drug . r.;;: lu 1: l: tE ~ ~h: aE.
<br /> Most novice users (those not addicted to methamphetamine or other hard d.ni;;is) n.ld
<br /> more likely use marjuana and not the harder drugs. As the marijuana eraEdi r.. iio,E
<br /> missions cease, the street value of marijuana will go down. Market forces w i C rb::n n.tJce
<br /> marijuana a major competitor with hard drugs such as methamphetamineo I'a; th = n•~ rt
<br /> cost-effective why for drug users to get high. The end result should be tte rt;d c~,,;inrE oi'
<br /> methamphetamine use and the increase of marijuana use.
<br /> 2) Marijuana users are generally passive and non..violent. ]f they engage in z:m rr.r !d a;rivc
<br /> behavior it may be that they tend to be passive, drive more slowly, eat n:arc f~u~d a~ td n:rt
<br /> more comedy videw. These behaviors are much praferablc w behaviors certrxr,tly
<br /> engaged in by methamphetamine addicts, who aze known to commit mu*drx, ral=;
<br /> dectnrctinn of property, theftq hnrglaries, rnhheries and terrorist acts.
<br /> Glven the voluminous amount of data that I have submitted with this testimony, rep ~c;er,t:,r p
<br /> hundreds of researchers and millions of dollars of investment In said research, th ~ I~IEr~s t I C:c tro.t;~
<br /> Comm. No. '
<br /> Ref. Tot x..ciJ
<br /> Ref. Date~17~0~
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