HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0639.007 2008-2010Murashige, Laura
From: CooksHl @aol corn
Sent: Sunday, January 03, 2010 7 18 PM
To: PeteHoffmann @hawaii rr corn, counciltestimony @co.hawaii hi.us
Cc: KForissier @co.hawaii.hi us, MHanano @co hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Objection To Resolution 281 -09 - Decriminalizaion of Marijuana
Attachments: OBJECT -1 PDF
Please see the attached - regarding Tuesday's Council Meeting - Jan. 5, 2010
Plz email back to confirm receipt.
Patti Cook (937 -2833)
"May my words be tender and sweet,
for tomorrow I may have to eat them." -- Uncle Kindy Sproat
bA Please consider the environment before printing this email.
1/5/2010
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AN 0 5 2010
The Honorable Pete Hoffmann
Hawaii County Council
Patti Cook
937 -2833
P/ TTI COOK,
P.O. Box 6960 - Kamuela, HI 96743-6960 - Cell: 937-2833
January 3, 2010
RE: Reso. No. 281 - 09 Relating to the Decriminalization of Marijuana
Aloha Pete:
I am writing to convey my personal distress over the resolution introduced by Councilman Kelly
Greenwell to decriminalize marijuana.
ask you to exercise your leadership in saying, "No -- This is not in the best interest of our
County's children, families and community."
My own family experienced first -hand the emotional and physical damage and impairments
created when our #2 son became consumed by his marijuana use and ultimately, addiction,
which led to a decade -long series of cascading bad choices. We were able to eventually
intervene but it remains a "lost decade" — he never finished his education, and he is, to this day,
impaired by the repercussions of the bad choices fostered by use of marijuana. It is very doubtful
he will ever reach his full potential, which is, for me and our family, heartbreaking.
Also, as a staff member at a public middle school, I see daily the debilitating impact that use of
marijuana, other illegal drugs and alcohol have on our families. I am especially disturbed at the
clear mental and physical evidence of brain damage that has occurred from use of marijuana,
alcohol and other drugs during pregnancy. These children suffer life -long neurological
impairments — their brains simply are cross -wired in a way that scientists say induces behavioral
problems that will hinder them in reaching their full potential. The most disturbing aspect of this is
that it is entirely PREVENTABLE.
There is much research available on fetal alcohol syndrome and the less identifiable ARND
(Alcohol Related Neurological Disorder) today but there is emerging evidence that marijuana use
during pregnancy significantly impairs brain development in utero.
I further object to this proposal because, as a community, county, state and nation, we have
much bigger issues to contend with. Our families and community are in a fiscal and social crisis.
Our entire economy and society need retooling to address the 21 Century global marketplace.
This resolution is a divisive distraction from the core issues that we have elected you to address
Please put this distraction to bed and get on with building a healthier, safer, vibrant economy and
community where our children and families — all of them — can thrive, not just survive.
Mahalo for your time I do wish you and Joan Happy New Year but am saddened that we have
barely begun a new decade and are already contending with this kind of divisive, unproductive
discourse within our County Council.