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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1018.005 2004-2006 Page 1 of 1 Murashige, Laura From: cynthia linet [cynthialinet@hawaii.rr.com] Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2006 4:05 PM To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: here is my testimony for 8/23/6 Attachments: green harvest.doc Attached is my testimony regarding the methamphetamine eradication act and green harvest. I plan to be there tomorrow to speak in person. Cynthia Linet vi - N f\i Comm. NO. V Ref. To: J Ref. cote AUG - 8/22/2006 Cynthia Linet, Esq. Attorney at Law 815A Kalanikoa Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720-5003 (808) 9615144 August 21, 2006 Hawaii County Council 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Re: Methamphetamine Eradication Act Dear Council members; I am writing you in favor of the methamphetamine eradication act and the stopping of green harvest in this county. By now you should be thoroughly aware of the fact that green harvest has been the main cause of the rapid rise in methamphetamines, the huge growth in special needs students in our schools, the higher costs of health care due to drug infestation, the rise in crime, the loss of jobs, the slowing of our economy, and all the peripheral problems resulting from the problems just mentioned. Oh for the days before green harvest, when a reputable marijuana grower could grow a crop that would help him feed his family, buy his land, build his house and in general participate economically in his community. Until green harvest, our economy was a thriving one, all the marijuana money, and you know as well as I do, it was substantial, stayed in the community and all businesses profited. People who did not drink or use heavy drugs could rely on a steady and relatively inexpensive source of marijuana to relieve their stress or just make them happier, that didn't rot their livers, ruin their lungs, mess up their minds and bodies or cause them to commit violent crimes. Then came green harvest. Growers stopped growing. People who could no longer get marijuana resorted to heavier drugs like ice and crack. I'm not telling you anything new here. These drugs as you now know have been the scourge of the county and the country as well. Child Protective Services cases are up drastically since green harvest, fueled in large part by the rapid growth of crack and ice addicted parents. As one social worker candidly told me one day "Give me the good old days when the issue was marijuana. At least we knew that the refrigerator was full." Our schools have been overwhelmed with special needs children, the result of being born addicted to these hard drugs. That never happened with marijuana. Our healthcare system has been overwhelmed as well with addicts and the results of the mayhem they cause while on these debilitating drugs. That never happened when people were able to smoke a little marijuana. Marijuana users do not burden the healthcare system, they don't get emphysema or sclerosis of the liver. In fact I know of no chronic or degenerative diseases that marijuana smokers are prone to. Don't misunderstand me, I am a teen court judge and when it comes to marijuana use for young people I am adamantly opposed and I am very vocal about it. I believe that marijuana use for young people is down right dangerous because it can rob them of their youth and all the leaming that must be done, stunting their emotional and intellectual growth as well. So what's the deal? Why is marijuana considered the scourge and more efforts are expended to wipe it out rather than ice and crack? Well, it's a money thing. Marijuana growers are easy targets and the law allows the confiscation of their possessions, not to mention the thousands of pounds of the plant that the police manage to harvest each year. Don't you think it odd that the plants are "harvested" the police' word, not mine, right at the height of their potency. That the buds are separated from the stems, weighed and given a street value and then........ Well the video the police prepared that told me this information failed to show us the final process. What exactly happens to the buds after that? We as a community, do not for one minute believe that all that high quality product is burned or mixed with trash. So now you know. You've known all along really but have not been courageous enough to speak out for the protection of your community. Stop the invasive and mercenary practice of robbing the people of their plant and take that money and use it to eradicate the true problems here, ice and crack. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Cynthia Linet, Esq.