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<br />COUNTY OF HAWAI'I <br /> <br /> <br />STATE OF HAWAI'I <br /> <br />RESOLUTION NO. <br /> <br />281. 09 <br /> <br />A RESOLUTION TO ENCOURAGE THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF THE USE OF <br />MARIJUANA. <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the approval of Ballot Item 1, relating to the Lowest Law Enforcement <br />Priority of Cannabis Ordinance, in the last General Election (2008) demonstrated that a <br />significant majority of the County electorate supports a relaxation of marijuana control laws; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, virtually all public testimony before this Council related to marijuana <br />eradication validates and supports the results of the aforementioned election; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, there remains a general community concern over the use of all <br />mind-altering substances; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, recent criminal activity involving illegal drugs nationally has reached <br />terrifying proportions; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, this trend is intensifying as organized crime acquires a stronger influence <br />over the market; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the market price of illegal drugs is based on controlled availability/cost; <br /> <br />and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, this market is increasing largely as a result of higher profits; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, marijuana is considered to be associated with these drugs; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the decriminalization of marijuana would dramatically affect the market by <br />providing a virtually cost-free alternative to drugs; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, one of the accepted solutions for illegal drug distribution is centered on the <br />dissolution of the market for drugs; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, decriminalizing marijuana is then the obvious first step toward a decline in <br />the market value of drugs; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, marijuana has never been shown to exhibit the harmful qualities associated <br />with most other drugs, including tobacco and alcohol; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, marijuana in a free society would probably be considered most compatible <br />with healthy social activity; now, therefore, <br />