HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0639.001 2008-2010
73-4328 AkaAka Place
Kailua Kona, HI 96740
December 15, 2009
Hawaii County Council
Police Chief Harry Kubojiri
Mayor Billy Kenoi
Dear Honorable Council Members, Chief Kubojiri, and Mayor Kenai,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposal to draft a letter to be sent
to the Hawaii state legislature requesting that they draft and pass a bill which would
decriminalize marijuana use for any purpose.
I am not sure of the reason or need for the proposal, be it personal freedom, county tax
revenue, or economic stimulus to the agriculture industry on the island and in the state.
It sounds innocuous, conjuring images of prudent adults growing their own marijuana
and relaxing with a few joints on their lanais, while decreasing the street price for non-
growers, thus decreasing the hard-drug criminal element, and even gaining some tax
revenues.
However, I believe that this proposal will result in more bad than good. It has the
dangerous potential for making our island and state a magnet and conduit for drug
production and trade, thus increasing, not decreasing, drug related violent and property
crime, driving impairment and road safety concerns, and personal & family problems.
Any financial gain by the agriculture industry and county tax revenues may be greatly
overshadowed by the tremendous cost to society, straining our police, mental health,
courts, and family services divisions, not to mention the deterioration of our aloha
lifestyle.
There are plenty of doctors willing to sanction personal use for those who desire a
medical marijuana permit without increasing availability to our children and opening the
flood gates to undesirable criminal elements who stand to profit by selling Hawaii-
grown product in states or countries where it is still illegal. I don't want our beautiful
home to become the Colombia or Afghanistan of the United States.
Ideally, I would like our county to comply with federal law. As this appears unlikely at
this time, I would ask that this proposal be rejected and that you leave things as they
are. If my opinion appears to be in the minority, I would ask that at the very least, you
delay voting on this until more people have had the opportunity to comment, as the
consequences of your vote are tremendous. Thank you for your consideration.
Aloha,
Sheryl Henderson Comm No.~~ 3-
Ref. To: I l T .
Ref. Date -nFr 15 7nn4