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Murashige, Laura -
From: Matt Rifkin [mattrifkin28 @gmail.com] ii_11 JUN 21 Pni 7 r`
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2010 6:10 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us # '
Subject: testimony for June 23 Resolution 340 -10
Hawaii County Council
June 23, 2010
Resolution 340 -10 Supports the Organization Law Encorcement Against Prohibition
STRONGLY SUPPORT
At the committee hearing for this resolution, several council members said they could not support this
because LEAP wants to legalize all drugs.
It is true that is what LEAP supports, but to clarify their position...they do not say all drugs should be
regulated the same way.
The best example I can think of is that of pain medications. There is a wide range of drugs that are used
to manage pain. Certain drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen are available over -the-
counter, and even are sold to minors. Other drugs, such as oxycontin, vicoden, percocet, Vioxx,
Celebrex, are prescribed by medical doctors, and are tightly controlled. There are even stronger pain
medications, such as controlled - release morphine, dilaudid, fentanyl (patches). These drugs have even
tighter controlls, such as extra paper work for doctors, since they are so addictive and subject to abuse.
They are very powerful, dangerous drugs, but they are LEGAL (and very tightly controlled).
The same standards would be applied to the other drugs....cannabis would be regulated, taxed and
distributed within certain regulations, and would be available similar to alcohol...sold in certain
locations and to people of a certain age. Making herion or ICE legal doesn't mean you would make it
easy to obtain. LEAP's argument is that these are dangerous drugs and therefore they need to be
regulated, that is why you make them legal. 'Just because it is legal does not mean you encourage its use.
Heroin is legally given to addicts in Switzerland...the purity is assured, and the addicts don't have to
steal to get money for it. Even though heroin is available, people are not rushing out to use it. There are
not people waiting in line to become addicts. Because the heroin is regulated, the strength and purity are
assured. There are fewer over dose deaths, and rates of HIV infection and Hepatitus C have decreased
because addicts are not sharing needles.
I hope the council will look more closely at what LEAP means when they say they want to leagalize all
drugs.
Please pass this resolution.
Respectfully submitted,
�
Matthew Rifkin $(a 5
tom C
Ref. To:
Ref. Uate N 2 3 201
6/21/2010