HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 281 Draft 01 2008-2010 OFFICE INFORMATION ONLY
Meeting: January 22, 2010 — Council Meeting (31 Session)
Action: Close File — January 22, 2010
Resolution 281 -09 /C- 639 /PWIRC -64
Re:
COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
STATE OF HAWAI'I
RESOLUTION NO.
281. 09
A RESOLUTION TO ENCOURAGE THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF THE USE OF
MARIJUANA.
WHEREAS, the approval of Ballot Item 1, relating to the Lowest Law Enforcement
Priority of Cannabis Ordinance, in the last General Election (2008) demonstrated that a
significant majority of the County electorate supports a relaxation of marijuana control laws; and
WHEREAS, virtually all public testimony before this Council related to marijuana
eradication validates and supports the results of the aforementioned election; and
WHEREAS, there remains a general community concern over the use of all
mind-altering substances; and
WHEREAS, recent criminal activity involving illegal drugs nationally has reached
terrifying proportions; and
WHEREAS, this trend is intensifying as organized crime acquires a stronger influence
over the market; and
WHEREAS, the market price of illegal drugs is based on controlled availability/cost;
and
WHEREAS, this market is increasing largely as a result of higher profits; and
WHEREAS, marijuana is considered to be associated with these drugs; and
WHEREAS, the decriminalization of marijuana would dramatically affect the market by
providing a virtually cost-free alternative to drugs; and
WHEREAS, one of the accepted solutions for illegal drug distribution is centered on the
dissolution of the market for drugs; and
WHEREAS, decriminalizing marijuana is then the obvious first step toward a decline in
the market value of drugs; and
WHEREAS, marijuana has never been shown to exhibit the harmful qualities associated
with most other drugs, including tobacco and alcohol; and
WHEREAS, marijuana in a free society would probably be considered most compatible
with healthy social activity; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAW AI'I that
marijuana should be decriminalized and not be treated as an illicit substance.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawai'i County Council strongly urges the
State Legislature to initiate legislation that will decriminalize the cultivation, possession, and use
of marijuana.
BE IT FIN ALL Y RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall forward copies of this
resolution to the Honorable Mayor William Kenoi; the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney; the
Police Chief of the Hawai'i County Police Department; the members of the Senate, Hawai'i
State Legislature; the members of the House of Representatives, Hawai'i State Legislature; Todd
K. Apo, Chair, Honolulu City Council; Bill "Kaipo" Asing, Chair, Kaua'i County Council;
Danny A. Mateo, Chair, Maui County Council; and the Peaceful Sky Alliance.
Dated at
, Hawai' i, this
day of
,2010.
COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawai'i
Hilo, Hawai'i
ROLL CALL VOTE
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the
County ofHawai'i on
AYES NOES ABS EX
ENRlQUES
FORD
GREENWELL
HOFFMANN
IKEDA
NAEOLE
ONISHI
YAGONG
YOSHIMOTO
ATTEST:
Reference:
C-639/PWIRC
281 09
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER
RESOLUTION NO.
2