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<br /> <br /> A_._Crit,Cal Review of _t he Marijuana_„Eradication__Pro_gram <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Is this program effective? Has marijuana been eradicated on <br /> <br /> the Big Island? What has this program accomplished in its 16 <br /> <br /> years of existence? Is this program an efficient and effective <br /> <br /> use of taxpayer monies? This critical review seeks to answer <br /> <br /> these questions. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Findings and_Con,clusi_ons. <br /> <br /> 1. In 1996, marijuana is more available, less expensive, <br /> <br /> and of higher quality than before Green Harvest operations began <br /> <br /> in 1980. <br /> <br /> 2. The ideological purpose of the program has changed from <br /> <br /> "eradication" to "management." Two new purposes have been added: <br /> <br /> providing police officers with overtime and obtaining revenue <br /> <br /> through forfeitures. <br /> <br /> 3. Red flags (possible violations) include: <br /> <br /> lack of mandatory program review; <br /> <br /> use of forfeiture money to supplant county revenues; <br /> <br /> use of county money for lobbying. <br /> <br /> 4. Social costs may include: <br /> <br /> diversion of scarce police resources and personnel; <br /> <br /> arrest, prosecution and imprisonment of thousands of local <br /> <br /> residents for marijuana and marijuana-related offenses; <br /> <br /> creation of new addicts to hard drugs such as crack, ice, and <br /> <br /> heroin and subsequent expansion of hard drug markets. <br />