cannabisnews.com: Hawai'i County Agrees To New Rules on Drug Raids





Hawai'i County Agrees To New Rules on Drug Raids
Posted by FoM on March 10, 2001 at 10:36:21 PT
By Hugh Clark, Advertiser Big Island Bureau
Source: Honolulu Advertiser
The Hawai‘i County Council's acceptance yesterday of a $160,377 federal drug enforcement grant means police can resume helicopter raids on Big Island marijuana patches with some new restrictions in place.A compromise resolution drafted by Councilman Gary Safarik of Puna and Vice Chairman Curtis Tyler III of Kailua-Kona, with help from marijuana advocate Dwight Kondo, requires police helicopters to maintain an altitude of at least 1,000 feet, requires officers rappelling from choppers to land at least 500 feet from homes, and bans herbicide spraying.
The resolution also requires police to turn over the highest grade of the marijuana they confiscate to state health officials for use by those holding medical marijuana permits.Police Capt. James Day said he believes police can work under the new rules.The helicopter raids were grounded last summer when the council refused to accept a $265,000 federal grant after members were unable to be insured against a threatened impeachment action by pro-marijuana forces.Council members had to spend their personal funds in a 1999 impeachment action initiated by marijuana advocates since the county charter bans the use of public monies in such legal cases.Julia Jacobson of Puna and Nancy Pisicchio of South Kona were the only two members on the nine-member council yesterday to vote against the grant acceptance.Council Chairman Jimmy Arakaki had to leave to catch a flight before a vote was taken.The two councilwomen praised the new restrictions as marked improvements in police procedures, but said they continue to oppose the raids on general principles.They think police should be shifting their attention to attacking the crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," problem.The pro-marijuana lobby led by Kondo, Dennis Shields, Roger Christie, Jonathan Adler and others wanted to limit raids to target growers with seven or more plants.That proposal failed, despite an amendment offered by Jacobson.The new rules also will require the police department to write rules and regulations covering their raids and to submit written reports after each operation on the number of plants taken, the location, and any complaints and how they were resolved.Most of those voting for the compromise described it as a balance between ridding the island of unwanted commercial marijuana operations and respecting the rights of those who use it for medical or religious purposes. Source: Honolulu Advertiser (HI)Author: Hugh Clark, Advertiser Big Island Bureau Published: Saturday, March 10, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.Address: P.O. Box 3110 Honolulu, HI 96802Fax: (808) 525-8037Contact: letters honoluluadvertiser.comWebsite: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/ Related Articles & Web Sites:Drug Policy Forum Of Hawaii: http://www.drugsense.org/dpfhi/Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute: http://www.medijuana.com/Dennis Shield's Home Page: http://www.hialoha.com/konagold/church/index.htmlPot Eradication Methods Draw Protest: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8024.shtmlKim Cites Concerns Over Marijuana Eradication: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8020.shtmlChasing Smoke - Hawaii's 24 Year War on Pot: http://honoluluadvertiser.com/specials/pot/index.html
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #2 posted by Rev. Jonathan Adler on March 12, 2001 at 10:56:37 PT:
Hawaii New Drug Raid Rules.
Aloha and Ethan Chill out!The distribution of confiscated marijuana was introduced by Dwight Kondo, an activist here who has fought for years with us at the Council meetings. He or Councilman Safarik did not take into account important factors such as those Ethan mentioned in his comments. The MOST important part of the new rules for POLICE to follow is that they MUST not interfere with legal rights now recognized for medical patients registered with Public Safety, but also registered reverends using cannabis for holy sacrament and healing must be left alone by Law Enforcment here. Religious Practitioners here such as myself have testified of our legal status and defense for years andf now we have written conditions binding Police from infringing on our religion.HISTORIC and distributuion continues legally by the Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute which is uniquely protected on BOTH medical and religious grounds. Peace Out! Call 1-877- medijuana to talk story. ETHAN! Please call. I can now supersede Federal authority and supply you religiously. Think abouty it. The answer is "volcanic organic medijuana"(TM) Protected by State and Federal Law!Rev. Jonathan Adler / Hawaii Medical Marjuana 
Hawaii Medical Marijuan Institute
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on March 10, 2001 at 13:48:53 PT:
Feds to the Front
"The resolution also requires police to turn over the highest grade of the marijuana they confiscate to state health officials for use by those holding medical marijuana permits." The Feds will never allow this kind of distribution, and are sure to intervene. Lack of a distribution method is often the most problematic issue with respect to "medical marijuana."
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment


Name: Optional Password: 
E-Mail: 
Subject: 
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL: 
Link Title: