cannabisnews.com: Big Island Pot Raids Look Like a Stretch 





Big Island Pot Raids Look Like a Stretch 
Posted by CN Staff on July 23, 2002 at 12:38:48 PT
Editorial
Source: Honolulu Advertiser 
It is not entirely clear why police on the Big Island have cracked down on local residents who hold medical marijuana permits, but the story offered thus far is less than totally convincing. Police said they raided residents in Kona and Puna on the basis of a complaint. That would be an adequate reason to investigate whether the permit holders were growing, selling or holding more marijuana than is allowed under the law. But according to the residents, the police went further than that. 
Three Kona residents were arrested after a police raid discovered 11 plants instead of the nine they were entitled to have under their state permit. Officers took all 11 plants. At best, they should have taken just the two extra mature plants rather than the entire collection. In another case, officers staged a helicopter raid on a 60-year-old Puna man who holds a state permit and took three of his plants. One was returned but it had been cut. It's clear that the new law allowing individuals to grow and possess a small amount of marijuana for personal medical use with a state permit is an irritant to law enforcement. In other jurisdictions, people have used the medical exception to grow, sell and distribute marijuana for recreational, rather than medical, uses. And some of that may be happening here. But like it or not, Hawai'i does have a law that allows people to use marijuana for medical reasons if they meet all the criteria for the state permit. It is doubtful that police would spend much time raiding the homes of people who take other, legal drugs for their ailments to determine if they have a little more in stock than their prescription calls for. Big-time marijuana production and distribution are worthy of police attention, although we'd argue the problem is not as serious as the epidemic of crystal methamphetamine use that all islands are enduring. The plain fact is that Hawai'i has chosen, as a matter of public policy, to let people use marijuana under limited circumstances for medical purposes. Law enforcement will have to accommodate itself to that fact.Source: Honolulu Advertiser (HI)Published: Tuesday, July 23, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.Contact: letters honoluluadvertiser.comWebsite: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/Related Articles:Big Island Residents Protest Drug Raids http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13487.shtmlPolice 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 
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Comment #3 posted by Sam Adams on July 23, 2002 at 16:41:31 PT
No kidding DS
I get so sick of all the pussy-footing around, euphemistic editorial writing. Violent thugs are attacking the ill! And we're ALL paying their salaries! They've got American flags on their clothes and cars.But no. It's more important to devote the front page, day after day, to what a couple dozen Israeli soldiers are doing. That's the way apathetic America likes it. The evil in the world is either over there, somewhere else, or, in history.  Politicians love to go around apologizing for slavery, wiping out the Indians, etc. How about dealing in the HERE and NOW, where we can actually stop the bad and increase the good?
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Comment #2 posted by Dark Star on July 23, 2002 at 13:07:46 PT:
How to Stop This Idiocy
Start incarcerating police and federal officials who break state law!
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Comment #1 posted by Windminstrel on July 23, 2002 at 12:58:09 PT
Pretty much says it all, eh?
"It's clear that the new law allowing individuals to grow and possess a small amount of marijuana for personal medical use with a state permit is an irritant to law enforcement."Too effin' bad. 
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