HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0639.025 2008-2010JAN -20 -2010 07:19P FFON:NHOP
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Hawaii County Council .' 1`` 1_V
25 Aupuni Street a010 4. II�
Hilo, Hawaii 96720 au JBN 21. RN
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Dear Council, COUNIY IF HAWAII
Re: Resolution 281 -09
I deeply object to Resolution 281 -09.
This resolution is too big a step with NO evidence to support it.
As you well know, leadership is about making every situation better for
the community. This resolution will not do that. There is NO evidence
that I have been able to find, that legalizing marijuana improves our
community selected priorities which are:
• to improve educational attainment,
• increase constructive youth activities,
• increase a qualified work force,
• decrease substance abuse and the associated problems,
• decrease teen pregnancy,
• decrease child abuse & neglect and,
• decrease the high rate of traffic deaths.
There is suggestive evidence that legalizing marijuana could in fact
make all seven of these priorities worse. This resolution is a "work
around" for the fact that some are dissatisfied with implementation o f <hl:
lowered priority for enforcement of marijuana compared to ICE &
cocaine. This resolution may also reflect the challenges associated with
developing clear standardized medical marijuana policies. Those two
issues need to be addressed directly, not by this unproven gigantic step
which has the potential to exacerbate exciting problems.
Please do the right thing and, at bare minimum, gather some real
data on likely impact BEFORE taking this step.
Sincerely,
V?
Sharon Vitousek, M.D.
Director, North Hawaii Outcomes Project
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Ref. Date JAN 2 2 2010