HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0639.004 2008-2010
..
~William P. Kenoi
" Mayor
Harry S. Kubojiri
Police Chief
Paul K. Ferreira
Deputy Police Chief
January 4,2010
County of Hawai' i
POLICE DEPARTMENT
349 Kapi'olani Street . Hilo, Hawaii 96720-3998
(808) 935-3311 . Fax (808) 961-2389
I
The Honorable Guy Enriques, Chair
And Members I
Committee on Public Works &1 Intergovernmental Relations
Hawai'i County Council !
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawai'i 96720
Re: Comm.639: A RESOLUTION TO ENCOURAGE THE DECRIMINALIZATION
(Res. 281-09) OF THE USE OF MARIJUANA
Dear Committee Chair Enriques and Members:
I
The Hawai'i Police Department opposes the passage of Resolution 281-09, A Resolution to
Encourage the Decriminalizatibn of the Use of Marijuana, urging the State Legislature to initiate
I
legislation that will decriminalize the cultivation, possession, and use of marijuana.
I
If this legislation is adopted, t4e Hawai'i County Council: 1) will be sending the message that
the citizens of this community are inviting the cultivation and subsequent exportation of
marijuana for profit; 2) will b~ sending the message that the use and abuse of marijuana among
children is accepted; 3) takes a position contrary to Federal and State law which classifies
marijuana as a controlled su~stance; 4) will undermine all previous programs and efforts to
instruct our children and citiz~ns that drug free living (whether the form of the drug is legal or
illegal) is the most healthy forth of living.
I
According to Hawai'i High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), marijuana is one of the
most significant drug threats to the State of Hawai'i, second only to crystal methamphetamine.
Hawai'i County remains the primary location in the state for the illegal cultivation, distribution
and exportation of marijuana, consistently having some of the highest seizure counts amongst
Domestic Cannabis Eradication Suppression Program (DCE/SP) agencies in the state.
In past years, marijuana cultivators have been confrontational to anyone who may inadvertently
encroach upon their grow sites. The Hawai'i Police Department has received a number of
reports from the public including hunters, farmers, hikers, surveyors, and even property owners
visiting their own lands in remote areas, of being confronted and threatened by persons with
weapons to intimidate and warn them to stay away from the area. On other occasions, citizens
have reported coming across marijuana grows with signs posted along trails containing threats of
injury or death to anyone that approaches the area.
"Hawai'i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer"
N. to1;Jq.lf-
Comm. . o. - f' 7i> IAJ I ,4.."
Ref. 101-:- n\\\l
R.ef. Date _J ~ N 0 5 -"-
{
~
The Honorable Guy Enriques, Chair
And Members
Committee on Public Works & Intergovernmental Relations
P~e2 .
I
Re: Comm.639: A RESOlJUTION TO ENCOURAGE THE DECRIMINALIZATION
I
(Res. 281-09) OF THE USE OF MARIJUANA
These types of incidents are i~frequent, but do occur, and are indicative of the methods and
means that marijuana cultivatdrs resort to and the value they place on their "crop." There are
I
other documented accounts o~ incidents whereby crimes of violence, threats, harassment, and
property damage have occurred due to conflicts between competing growers or between growers
and citizens who live in or freqhent the area.
By the passage of this resolutJn, the Hawai'i County Council would be sending the message that
the citizens of this communit~ would be inviting the cultivation and subsequent exportation of
marijuana for profit. This w04ld in turn increase the incidents of violence and crimes described
above, thus having the opposite effect of what is being sought by the author of this proposed
legislation.
Another concern to law enforcement is the widespread use and abuse of marijuana among high
school students. According to :the Office of National Drug Control Policy's August 2008 Profile
of Drug Indicators report for the State of Hawai'i, nearly 30% of Hawai 'i high school students
had tried marijuana at least once in their lifetime and approximately 15% of high school st.udents
reported current use of marijm;ma. Marijuana had the highest percentage of lifetime and current
use among this age group, greater than cocaine, inhalants, methamphetamine, ecstasy and
steroids. Numerous studies s~ggest that marijuana use can have long-term effects and health
risks on the body, not to mention that marijuana can also be considered a gateway drug that can
lead to more harmful and addictive drugs.
Additionally, this Resolution could be interpreted as the Hawai'i County Council supporting the
legalization of drug trafficking within the State, since marijuana is still a controlled substance
under both Federal and Hawai'i state law. Therefore, law enforcement is unable to support a
resolution that has the effect Of circumventing applicable federal and state laws, since to do so
would be hypocritical.
Finally, by this resolution, the Hawai'i County Council will be sending the wrong message to our
youth. The passage of this resolution will undermine all previous efforts and programs to protect
our communities and teaching our children to embrace a DRUG FREE lifestyle. Thus, the
Hawai'i Police Department urges you to oppose the passage of Resolution 281-09.
Sincerely,
Q~Qg~
PAUL K. FERREIRA
DEPUTY POLICE CHIEF