Pubdate: Mon, 29 Jun 2015
Source: Honolulu Star-Advertiser (HI)
Copyright: 2015 Star Advertiser
Contact: 
http://www.staradvertiser.com/info/Star-Advertiser_Letter_to_the_Editor.html
Website: http://www.staradvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5154
Author: Michael J. Golojuch Jr.

COLORADO BETTER OFF SINCE LEGALIZING POT

Bill Funk and Rep. Marcus Oshiro have not been paying attention to 
actual data coming out of Colorado ("More pot means more problems," 
Star-Advertiser, Letters, June 17; "For-profit marijuana will be 
dangerous," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, June 14).

Since legalizing marijuana, Colorado has seen an 8.9 percent drop in 
property crime and an increase of $40.9 million into the state's 
coffers. It also is not wasting taxpayer dollars on adjudicating 
marijuana offenses, at a cost of $300 per case, so that is saving the 
state money.

Crime is down, state revenue is up and its judicial system is freed 
up to deal with real criminals - sounds like a dream come true.

Oh, and yes, Colorado's gross domestic product has increased since 
the state added a new product to the marketplace, which is Economics 101.

Unfortunately we are not talking about legalization here in Hawaii; 
we are only talking about getting proven medicine into the hands of 
our longtime suffering friends and neighbors.

Hopefully next session our legislators will see the light.

Michael J. Golojuch Jr.

Makakilo
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom