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<br /> <br /> rises gradually c a thirteen year period n 1980 to 1993. i <br /> <br /> 31 The price then drops dramatically from 1993 to 1996, <br /> <br /> paralleling the later information provided by the police <br /> <br /> department. Adjusted for inflation and measured in constant 1995 <br /> <br /> dollars, after sixteen years of Green Harvest operations, the <br /> <br /> street price is nearly the same in 1996 as in 1980 when the <br /> <br /> program began. See Graph # 3. <br /> <br /> c..L o n gt_e r.mr,e s i d e n.t s <br /> <br /> Interviews with long term Big Island residents report a <br /> <br /> price of 100 to 200 dollars an ounce in the early 1980's and a <br /> <br /> price of between 300 to 400 dollars an ounce today. Measured in <br /> <br /> constant 1995 dollars the price closely parallels the increase in <br /> <br /> all other commodities.'2 See Graph # 3. <br /> <br /> Interestingly enough the average price per ounce by all <br /> <br /> three measures shows a rise in the year 1993 and then a fall to <br /> <br /> 1996 no matter how it is measured. <br /> <br /> This is confirmed by statements from police officers <br /> <br /> regarding availability. Availability and price move opposite to <br /> <br /> one another for a given commodity. A high price means low <br /> <br /> availability; conversely, high availability means a low price. <br /> <br /> In 1993, Assistant Chief Todd reports, "I don't think you <br /> <br /> can even buy it at this point. I've talked to some undercover <br /> <br /> officers. They haven't been able to locate Hawaiian <br /> <br /> marijuana."" This would indicate an astronomical price. In <br /> <br /> 1996, Lt. Fukui reports that "within a five day week the officers <br /> <br /> would be there twice out of the day for marijuana being found on <br /> <br /> <br /> 8 <br />