cannabisnews.com: Big Island Residents Protest Drug Raids Big Island Residents Protest Drug Raids Posted by CN Staff on July 20, 2002 at 14:36:05 PT By Hugh Clark, Advertiser Big Island Bureau Source: Honolulu Advertiser Big Island residents in Kona and Puna are up in arms over recent raids that some claim are targeted against medical marijuana permit holders. Honolulu attorney Jack Schweigert yesterday said he plans to file a lawsuit in Kona's Circuit Court next week on behalf of at least three victims of the raids. He said they appear to be the focus of "frustrated police who have not yet accepted the state law." Police and county officials denied they're targeting medical marijuana users. But three Kona residents were arrested July 8 and a Puna man said he was the victim of a helicopter police raid on Thursday. Each have state-issued cards allowing them to grow and possess marijuana to treat their ailments.In Kona, three people at one house were arrested, but not charged, for having 11 mature plants instead of the nine they were eligible to grow under three medical marijuana permits managed by the state's Public Safety Department.Rhonda Robison, 32, who holds a permit to use marijuana for hereditary muscular dystrophy, said it was the third time her household was invaded by police when her three children her home.Also arrested was husband John Robison, whose leukemia is in remission, as well as long-term houseguest Kealoaha Wells, who had returned the weekend before from three weeks of chemotherapy on O'ahu.Although police said they confiscated mature plants only, Rhonda Robison said the officers were mistaken. Just because the plants were beginning to flower doesn't mean they are ready to harvest, she said.State law allows medical marijuana users to have three mature plants, four immature plants and 3 ounces of dried marijuana.Police said they were aware that the Robisons and Wells had a medical marijuana permit, but were simply responding to a complaint that they were growing marijuana on the property.After consulting with the Public Safety Deparment and the Hawai'i County prosecutor's office, officers returned 1.5 ounces of marijuana to the trio, but not the plants.On Thursday, retired accountant Guy Shepard of Puna's Leilani Estates said three of his plants were seized by officers who dropped from a helicopter while he raced into his home to retrieve his medical card.Shepard, 60, who describes himself as having a back problem and a hip ailment caused by a 1991 bicycle crash in Ka'u, said one plant was returned but it already had been cut and was therefore of no value to him.Big Island marijuana advocate Dennis Shields said Big Island police have gotten overzealous in their crusade against marijuana."They're bullies with badges who beat up on sick people," he said. "We have an ice epidemic on this island, and they're going after marijuana. The police department is out of control."Advertiser staff writer Timothy Hurley contributed to this report.Source: Honolulu Advertiser (HI)Author: Hugh Clark, Advertiser Big Island BureauPublished: Saturday, July 20, 2002 Copyright: 2002 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.Contact: letters honoluluadvertiser.comWebsite: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Dennis Shields Home Pagehttp://hialoha.com/konagold/church/Police Seize Plants from Medical Pakalolo Userhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13474.shtmlKona Police Return Confiscated Pakalolohttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13449.shtmlMedical Marijuana Users Say Police Harassing Them http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13381.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by FoM on July 21, 2002 at 22:04:02 PT Reverand Adler You know something I've always thought Hawaii is made for cannabis growing. It is embedded in the culture and I thought they knew better in Hawaii but I guess they don't and good luck to you. Thanks for the update. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Rev Jonathan Adler on July 21, 2002 at 21:59:58 PT: The Police's House of Cards is falling Down! Aloha Guys! Up-dates from the Volcano Isle, every day we get more incidents of Police abuse of power and mis guided attempts to protect us from ourselves. I just have been asked to comment to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel on the trial I just finished where I was found guilty of having too many sacramental pipes and plants. The Judges here suffer from the same disease as the Police. Tunnel-vision accompanied by denial syndrome! They are bullies too! The are tuely frustrated criminals who have been told to stop stealing our medicine and sacraeent. I am still running for Governor and it is a trip! Peace Out! Jonathan Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on July 20, 2002 at 19:28:28 PT Hawaii Thank You for the update. I wish you all the best. Keep us posted when you can. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Hawaii on July 20, 2002 at 17:41:06 PT: Unlawful arrest! Aloha and greetings from Hawaii: Like you have said you have seen flowering plants that were still eight weeks away from maturity. But behold the initial reason for the arrest was "we had more than 7 plants", but then he said we can have 21 but they need to be "definitively separated" , then it went to "okay you can have 21 cause there are 3 registered patients here, but you cannot have more than 7 in one location." All caught on videotape right before the arrest. The maturity issue came up after finding out that we were in violation of NO such law for labling and separation. Anyway it will be interesting on how this one comes out as we had only 1 plant 2 weeks away from full maturity. We will definately keep you all posted. Aloha & God bless. John & Rhonda Robison & Kealoha Wells [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by JHarshaw on July 20, 2002 at 14:50:52 PT Definitions If they insist on putting limitations like this into play then someone is going to have to come up with a legal definition of "mature plants".I've seen flowering plants that were still eight weeks from maturity.Good luck with this one! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment