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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0314.002 1996-1998 JUN-13 97 1~:~8 FRp~'~:EREWER ENI,IROf"ENTRL 808-532-7580 70:9693291 PGGE ~1 JFl[~.(0?1\~[ ~C'lH[lE ]D~]E~)f~ (0>lF f ][I~~ [ J[~.A,~1C']HC June 10, 1997 ~ on C~j Councihnazi Joe Reynolds & All Council.members 25 Aupuni Street ~ Hilo, Hi 96720 VIA FAX 3 R)v: Marijuana Eradication/Education & the return to Hawaii, of Federa!'Fax Dollars Aloha Joe, I would first like to request that this epistle of St. James be a numbered communication distributed to all the Honorable Councilmembers, hopefully, prior to the Council Meeting. Back in the summer of `95 there was a book on the best sellers list called The Death of Common Sense. It may be time to give it a read. I know all of you have been deluged ('These days 1 try not to refer to floods & arks) with pro-dope testimony- I also realize that some of you have thought not to vote for the return of our Federal Tax Dollars to Hawaii County Police Department. I pray you will reconsider, and humbly request you listen to the argument I offer: There are those who claim that the eradication effort "does not work!" Alas, if it did not, the dopers would not be pitching a bitch, at each and every Council meeting where this subject arises. The truth is, that it does work and works damn well. They say it drives up the cost of dope (which it does; see "supply & demand" Economics 101) and that as a consequence of the higher price, causes those who would otherwise be getting stoned on "Pot," to purchase more addictive and dangerous drugs. Al] the while, claiming that marijuana is not a "gateway drug" and does not lead to additional drug use. You can't have it both ways! I want you to think about that azgument cazefiilly~ Those who use "cheap" marijuana will "be forced" (via your actions) to go on to more dangerous drugs, if they can't get cheap pot. It's not a gateway drug? If it isn't what on earth is? .02 ~0. ttet 'im F C _ tar, nate5l~l~1m~3.1°19~ _ z You have heard the fantasy, I beg now, you hear the face The helicopter flights, which testimony would have you believe is akin to living under the flight path at O'Haze, occur no more than 35 days a year! That is 3S days, out of 365! You have heard that the Police have been aerial spraying herbicides- It is no longer done, and has not been done, in well over two yeazs. Ask the cops. Also ask the cops about "education-" Because that is what a portion of this money is used for! Policing, which includes "narcotics enforcement" is something the County pays for. We pay the salaries of the cops (see the budget). The Federal Tax Money we receive, the vast majority of it, goes to Police. watzes. If we do not take it, Property Tax will pay it. Policing, narcotics enforcement, goes on in any case. The CHOICE is: It's Federal Tax, or County Tax! A little history. Back in the `60's and 70's law enforcement was going after "users" and those who would indulge in a bit of tok'n (if caught) were criminals. "If caught, includes Clinton, Gore and Gingrich. " Law enforcement decided to shift the focus. To go after the suppliers, manufactwes and Bowers. To go after those who were supplying dope in the Business of supplying dope; hence, the eradication effort. Let us make no mistake, those growing dope, are in the Business of supplying dope. Eradication has caused a price increase, because it has #1. reduced supply and #2. increased risk. lt'S wOrk'n! Consider this: No average person wakes up one morning and says, "Gee! I've never teed drugs, I think I'll mainline some Heroin today and see what it's like" Ask any junkie, they all started with "pot." No non-drinker wakes up one morning and decides to polish off a quart of Jack Daniels. They started with a bottle of beer, or a glass of wine. For those adults who use pot, they will find a way to afford their vice. Such is the way of the world. A smoker can always find the bucks for a pack of smokes, the drunk a few dollars for some hooch, and the doper enough cash for a high. The adult, with even a serious pattern of marijuana use, can grow more than an adequate supply of pot, in a closet with a grow lamp, for their own use, with little or no risk of getting caught. It is the kids, OUR CHILDREN, who can not afford the high price of these various vices. 20~39tid Z62E696 ~O1 ~BSL-2CS-BBB ~d1N~W0'JI~N~ b3M3bB~W0?J~ B~~Bi z5 ~i-Nl~f JIiN-13 97 1P:08 FROM:6REWER EhVIROMEh'TF1L 80E-532-75C~~7 T0: 9693291 PRGE~03 3 CHEAP MARIJUANA INVITES OCJR CHILDREN TO SMOKE DOPE'. Indeed, do not fund our eradication efforts, and the victims are WITHOUT QUESTION OR DOUBT our children: You would be doing nothing more than making drugs easier and more affordable for our precious children. Think about that. Little children, still m their fot7native years, their minds developing, along with the habits they will have throughout life. Do you really wagt to be the person to make dope more affordable aqd available to them? I have heard those of you on the Council speak, and speak well, of our spirit of Aloha, the feeling of Ohana, of protection of the Aina, and the meaning of Pono. Explain to me how cheap drugs, in particular Marijuana, THE Gateway drug, being more available to our precious children, still in elementary school, fits into the scheme of those things we consider "pono." We, who seek to save a small strip of sand for a public resource, seek to protect the archeological sites of ancient Hawaii, how could we, forsake the small and unprotected children, the keiki. OK! If you vote for eradication, you will lose the dope vote. I believe that's far better than losing a generation! Joe, you are a close and trusted friend of mine. A father and grandfather, as I am. I know no man that cares more for children than you. I know few that have the love of their fellow man that you have. I know you personally, to be a good, decent and honest person who acts with caution and careful deliberation. Trust me ! (1'm not a politician anymore) This program ss not perfect, but it does work. It may save only a few hundred children a year from developing a drug habit, were very cheap marijuana available. Of those few hundred, just less than half will ever try stronger drugs and just a small percentage will become junkies. Vote against the eradication money and you will get the "dope vote" and it will only cost the futures of a few of our childreu. To the rest of you Honorable Councilmembers; some of you I have served with, and others I barely know, however, to all of you; I implore you, think of our kids. Don't give drug dealers any advantage, don't subsidize their industry, use the common sense God gave you. If this program wasn't working, they wouldn't be bitch'n!