Pubdate: Tue, 05 Sep 2000 Source: Honolulu Advertiser (HI) Copyright: 2000 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. Contact: Address: P.O. Box 3110 Honolulu, HI 96802 Fax: (808) 525-8037 Website: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/ BIG ISLE AMBIVALENCE LEADS TO POT WAR LAG It's harvest time on the Big Island for what once was called its biggest industry: the illegal marijuana crop. And for the first time in 24 years, it appears pakalolo farmers will have a field day. The forces of greed and self-indulgence being as strong as they are, no one really expected police ever to succeed in total eradication of the marijuana industry. But since 1976, a combined law enforcement operation called Operation Green Harvest has more than kept it in check. Now a bizarre development threatens to halt the marijuana eradication project. Six County Council members underwent an impeachment attempt last year in an action brought by critics of eradication efforts. That action ultimately was thrown out of court. But the council members are afraid it could happen again - really afraid, since they were personally responsible for their individual legal fees in the case. The Hawai`i County Police Department received a $265,000 check, the federal contribution to the eradication effort. The council members wanted to accept it, but the eradication critics vowed to mount a new impeachment effort if they did. So council members tentatively agreed to accept the check, provided a portion of it could be used to purchase insurance to cover their legal fees if they faced new impeachment charges. No such insurance could be found, so the check has been sent back to the feds. That essentially cripples Operation Green Harvest. What concerns us is not so much the details of Big Island law, which provides county legal support for council members in the event of recall, but not for impeachment. A well-meaning and motivated citizenry will find its way around such obstacles if it wants to. No, the wider problem seems to be the widespread ambivalence on the Big Island on the subject of marijuana in particular and law enforcement in general. Ultimately, Big Island residents are going to enjoy the kind of police services, and therefore the kind of safety and serenity, they are willing to support. One would have thought the movement to impeach the council members for trying to fight marijuana would have been seen by the vast majority of citizens asa not-so-funny joke. Instead, many folks seem to think there's something to it. Some welcome the huge infusion of cash a resurgence of the industry will mean for the economy. Others are put out by noisy helicopters and intrusive cops. There's a lot of distrust for the Hawai`i County Police Department, or factions within it. But there's no way to stamp out a crime that has tacit support from the community. And it's wishful thinking to suppose that the drug industry is unrelated to the series of vicious crimes that have occurred on the Big Island in recent years. And it's wishful thinking to suppose that marijuana doesn't play a part in that mix. - --- MAP posted-by: John Chase