HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0990.026 1996-1998
FPr',M pPLG PGL:~1 FOFL,M CF 4RL,P; =~CtdE No'. 13 1998 10: 35ur1 Pl W
DRUG POLIO- FOR! vI OF H,vvt/Ail
P 0 B0.A (51._'
HONOLULU. HaV3 All
96839
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November 13. 1998
Board or;hrectoR Finance Committee
Donald ropPmq. Ph.o. Ha%cai'i Count, Council
ommee"' Hilo. HI
Pamela 4chty. M P H
nice Presvemt FAX 808-Q6Q-3'91
Paul Groesbeck. Esq.
i Rae Vre!
JCR Cr Word, PnQ. Dear Sir.
Lynetta Cruz. M.A. Enclosed please find mi testirnon) relating to the Council's consideration of
John Cunene. M.D. continuation of the marijuana eradication program in the State of Hawaii.
Lind. Engolberg.
MLS. Although I am unable to attend the hearing in person, I hope that my testimony
Pcha.a Mdl.t. Esq~ will be read for all the Council members as r'.cll as those persons in attendance.
Ceo.g. a..d. Pho Sincerely.
wiwam w.nn.r,M D ~
Donald M. Topping
President
Raising Awareness of Drug Folwi. Opliuns
TESTIMONY FOR HA`,\'AI'I COUNTY COUNCIL
ON tin. Nw 9 9 0. 2 6_
(f ,j G
MARUL A\A ERADICATION PROGRAMS 1% No.
X01 pr C _
SUBMITTED BY NOV 1 7 1998
DONALD %e. TOPPING Ref' Date
PROFESSOR EMERITUS. UrNl', C.RSfTY OF HAWAI'l AT MANOA
PRESIDENT. DRUG POLICY FORUM OF HAWAII, INC.
NOVEMBER 13. 1995
My name is Donald Topping I am Professor Emeritus of the University of
Hawaii at Manoa. and current]) Presidem of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, a non-
profit educational organization Hhose mission is to bring the discussion of current drug
policies to the public forum
The marijuana eradication program is bud drug policy for a number of reasons, not
the least of which is the fact that it is driven by money rather than positive outcomes,
which have never been evaluated.
In previous testimony I have proposed a direct link between marijuana eradication
and the growine use of cr)'stal methamphetamine i''Ice") to Hawaii. That link has been
well established through research completed in 1994 by Dr. Patricia Morgan et al. While
this unintended consequence will not disappear it might be ameliorated by shifting the
focus of law enforcement efforts from marijuana: cradtcation - a costly and time-
consuming effort - to Tort urgent needs.
I have also rccommended that the marijuana eradication program needs to be
evaluated for its intended and unintended consegeences To my knowledge, this has
never been done, e~ en though it is regmred ha la, .A thorough evaluation will, I am
convinced. lead to the following conclusions
I Marijuana has not been eliminated from, our state Any schoolchild anywhere
in the state can obtain marijuana within a thi y-minute time frame or less.
FROM DRUG FCLICY FORUM OF HGWPI'I FHCNE hC. : SCE =8 436E Nc~. 13 1998 10 3E=M _
I Use of marijuana by adolescents has increased in recent years despite the
massive eradication programs.
3. Owing to the perennial eradication pcogcam, the cost of marijuana is higher in
Hawaii than anyplace else the world, thus putting it in the same price range, and
therefore the same market as crystal methamphetamine. heroin and crack cocaine.
I hope the Council will consider the above facts during its deliberations. : Also to
be considered is the immoral and irrational concept of trying to eradicate a benign plant
that has been used as medicine, spiritual sacrament_ food and enhanced states of
consciousness for thousands of years in all parts of the world- Other cultures have
learned to live in harmony with this plant. W ha7 can't we?