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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0111.009 2010-2012 Page 1 of 1 P1 COUNCIL Murashige, Laura U�LIG lq Ra(G From: Peaceful Sky Alliance [peacefulskyhawaii@gmail.com] o c Sent: Friday, March 18, 2011 12:05 PM =1 11,6. To: Council testimony Subject: testimony for March 21, 2011 Attachments: Hawaii County Council Testimony Mar21- 11.docx Aloha.... Attached is my testimony for the hearing on March 21, 2011 at 5pm Thank you Matthew Rifkin www.peacefulskyalliance.org Comm No. ///. 9 Ref. To: Pre..wki Count / 3/21/2011 Ref. Date MAR 21 2011 PEACEFUL SKY ALLIANCE P.O. Box 10896 Hilo HI 96721 www.peacefulskyalliance.org phone 808 938 0644 "Citizens dedicated to implementing the Lowest Law Enforcement Priority of Cannabis Ordinance..." Testimony for Hawai'i County Council Public Hearing on Operating and Capital Budgets for fiscal year July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012 Hearing Date: Monday March 21, 2011 at 5pm Aloha Council Chair and Members, Thank you for this opportunity to testify. My name is Matthew Rifkin, and I am representing the Peaceful Sky Alliance. Attached you will find an op -ed written by Pete Holmes, the Seattle City Attorney. He writes: "As the steward of reduced prosecutorial dollars, I am the first Seattle city attorney to stop prosecuting marijuana - possession cases and to call for the legalization, taxation and regulation of marijuana for adult recreational use." You heard that correctly, the Seattle city attorney is following the voters' wishes on I -75, their version of the Lowest Law Enforcement Priority, and is not wasting limited tax payer dollars on prosecuting minor possession cases. Marijuana is still illegal in Washington state and Federally, yet Mr. Holmes is exercising his discretion and not charging certain cases. The same could happen right here in Hawai'i County, right now. I have seen estimates from the mainland that it costs anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 to prosecute each case. I have not been able to find such cost data for Hawai'i County, but I do have the May 2010 police report. It shows 175 persons being arrested for marijuana related offenses, of which 144 were for "promotion of a detrimental drug in the 3` degree" which means possession of one ounce or less. Typically, a first time offender will pay a $50 fine and $350 in court fees. I have been in court to watch such proceedings. There is a judge, two clerks, a bailiff, a court reporter, several sheriffs, the deputy prosecuting attorney and deputy public defender. The police office must be in court, not out fighting crime. If the officer must appear in court while he is off duty, he gets paid overtime to appear. All of these people are involved in collecting $400. If the cost is $3,500 per case, that means a short fall of $3,100 times 144 which comes out to $446,000 every six months. This is wasteful and unproductive. At the state legislature, SB 1460 would make possession of one ounce or less a civil violation subject to a $100 fine. The bill may not pass, but Hawai'i County and the Prosecuting Attorney already have the power to save money right now. Simply stop charging people with "promotion of a detrimental drug in the 3` degree." Thank you, Matthew Rifkin Vice President Peaceful Sky Alliance is a non - profit organization incorporated in the State of Hawaii who choose to use them to do so land than passing laws which in as safe a manner as possible. cannot be enforced." Washington state Marijuana is far more like alcohol Marijuana prohibition cannot be than it is like hard drugs, and we and has not been consistently should lead on should treat it as such. We enforced, and keeping it on the marijuana address alcohol abuse primarily as books diminishes the people's legal ization a public - health issue, and we respect for law enforcement. g should do the same with marijuana Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes abuse. Inebriation only becomes a I applaud the state Legislature for argues that its time to legalize, tax and crime for those who choose to get recently holding a hearing on regulate marijuana. Outright prohibition g isn't working behind the wheel, whether the House Bill 1550, which would intoxicant is alcohol, prescription legalize marijuana. This is an By Pete Holmes important start to the conversation Special to The Times pain killers or cannabis. p about ending prohibition, which I apREV 1 of 2 NEXT w My focus as city attorney is to believe is likely to lead to a ,D enlarge ensure that we have ways to successful citizens' initiative if the regulate the production and Legislature doesn't step up and do MARIJUANA prohibition is more distribution of any potentially the right thing first. than a practical failure; it has been harmful substance so that we limit a misuse of both taxpayer dollars the potential risk and harm. Ending marijuana prohibition and and the governments authority Outright prohibition is an focusing on rational regulation and over the people. ineffective means of doing this. taxation is a pro - public safety, pro - public health, pro - limited As the steward of reduced Instead, I support tightening laws government policy. I urge the state prosecutorial dollars, I am the first against driving while stoned, Legislature to move down this Seattle city attorney to stop preventing the sale of marijuana to road. prosecuting marijuana - possession minors, and ensuring that anything cases and to call for the other than small -scale Even if marijuana remains illegal legalization, taxation and noncommercial marijuana under federal law, it is still time for regulation of marijuana for adult production takes place in regulated Washington state to act. As with recreational use. agricultural facilities — and not alcohol prohibition, collective residential basements. action by the states will help us We have long since agreed as a end the federal marijuana society that substances should not It is critical that we get these prohibition and transition to a be prohibited by the government details right. Ending marijuana rational and functional system for simply because they can be prohibition isn't a panacea, but it's regulating and taxing marijuana. harmful if misused or consumed in a necessary step in the right excess. Alcohol, food and cars can direction, and the specifics of a The state of Washington should all be extremely dangerous under rational regulatory system for not use the continued existence of certain circumstances, and marijuana are important. the federal prohibition as an cigarettes are almost always excuse for leaving our misguided harmful in the long term. All these Ending marijuana prohibition is and wasteful state prohibition things kill many people every year. pro -law enforcement because it system in place. would enhance the legitimacy of But we don't try to ban any of them our laws and law enforcement. As Pete Holmes is serving his first — because we can't, and we don't Albert Einstein said of Prohibition term as Seattle city attorney. need to. Instead, we regulate their in 1921, "Nothing is more manufacture and use, we tax destructive of respect for the http: / /seattictimes.nwsource.co them, and we encourage those government and the law of the m /html /opinion /2014247491 g uest17holmes.html Peaceful Sky Alliance is a non - profit organization incorporated In the State of Hawaii