HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0639.003 2008-201073 -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 Kenoi,
2009 DEC 29 API 10 03
COUNT :if:
I am writing to express my strong opposition to Hawaii County Council Res. 281 -09 urging the
Hawaii state legislature to initiate legislation which would decriminalize the cultivation,
possession, and use of marijuana.
I am not sure of the reason or need for the proposal, be it personal freedom, possible county or
state 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, drag - 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, if for no other reason than to maximize
receipt of future federal funding. 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. In 3 q • 3
Ref. Toz ` PIPIa
Ref. Date JAN 0 5 2010