Joann Breeden's letter is both misinformed and misleading ("Legal pot will lead to more addiction," Star-Advertiser, June 25). The pending legislation does not legalize marijuana. It sets up a tightly regulated dispensary system designed to undercut the black market while providing registered patients with medicine their doctors recommend. Marijuana doesn't "stop working"; unlike hard drugs, it doesn't create a tolerance in users. Of course drug users start with marijuana; it's the most widely used psychoactive substance in the world after alcohol. [continues 94 words]
We agree with your view, "Marijuana not a good idea for kids" (Star-Advertiser, Off the News, Dec. 21), as shown by recent research. And the just-released Monitoring the Future study shows that use of marijuana among adolescents has risen. But that government survey also shows that the use of cigarettes and alcohol among teens is at an all-time low. The use of prescription painkillers and synthetic marijuana is also down. The harms of marijuana pale compared to these other drugs. [continues 84 words]
Your report on Keith Kamita's presentation to the Kauai Chamber of Commerce brings back "Reefer Madness." Mr. Kamita, head of the state Narcotics Enforcement Division, employs exaggeration and fear mongering. He asserts that marijuana used to be 1 to 4 percent THC (a psychoactive component), but it's now 15 to 20 percent. The "Drug Czar's" office, says current potency levels are 10 percent. Kamita states there are 2,000 chemicals in marijuana. This is both inaccurate (there are 400) and irrelevant: coffee has more than 1,000. [continues 183 words]
Your story on the "death" of the marijuana decriminalization bill reveals continuing confusion about decriminalization versus legalization ("House abandons bill to decriminalize pot," StarAdvertiser, April 4). The latter has been enacted (via voter initiative) in only two states, Washington and Colorado. It will include state taxation, regulation and control. Decriminalization would replace the criminal penalty for possessing small amounts of marijuana with a citation and fine. Rep. Marcus Oshiro proclaims, "We don't have to be the ones to be first in line, spending enormous time, energy and money, and exposure of our young people in this untested area." [continues 77 words]
David Shapiro's column on tightening up medical marijuana rules was mean-spirited and ill-informed ("Green on right track to make medicinal pot rules more rigid," Volcanic Ash, Star-Advertiser, May 4). Rather than our state law being "loosey goosey," we are the only place, besides Vermont, where the program is housed in a law enforcement agency. And Shapiro's comparison to California is way off base, since our law is far more tightly written. We should emulate the dispensary systems in Colorado, Rhode Island, and New Mexico, which are stringent and well controlled. [continues 97 words]
Unmentioned in your story on medical marijuana ("Profitable pot(http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20110320_profitable_pot.html)," Star-Advertiser, March 20) was the potential economic benefit to Hawaii. While it's hard to predict revenues, we can look at other states' experience. Colorado, the model for the dispensary bill still in play (Senate Bill 1458), made $2.2 million in 2010 from sales taxes. They allocate a percentage of this to substance abuse screening, referrals and treatment. Hawaii's medical marijuana law has been in effect for more than a decade without changes. The more than 8,000 registered patients tell us that safe and legal access to their medicine is their most pressing concern. Medical cannabis dispensaries would address this need while providing a significant revenue stream for the state and counties. It's a win-win. Pamela G. Lichty President, Drug Policy Forum of Hawai'i [end]
"Never let the facts stand in the way," could be the slogan for Kauai's law-enforcement rally tomorrow against pending marijuana bills in the Legislature. One of those bills would decriminalize possession of one ounce or less. The police and prosecutors are ignoring projections, in the bill itself, that Hawaii could save more than $6 million annually in enforcement and court costs. Decriminalizing pot would prevent young people from getting criminal records. And most important, the history in the 13 other decriminalization states show no increase in use. [continues 78 words]
Hawai'i should focus on workable rules for compassion centers. It is no coincidence that law enforcement is mounting a propaganda campaign to convince Hawai'i legislators and the public that opening medical marijuana dispensaries is a bad idea. This is the first year amendments to Hawai'i's 10-year-old medical marijuana law have progressed in the legislature. Opening dispensaries to provide registered patients with safe and legal access to marijuana was the No. 1 recommendation of the Medical Cannabis Working Group. Our law permits qualifying patients to use this medical herb without providing a legal supply-thus forcing patients to go to the black market to obtain their medicine. [continues 122 words]
It is no coincidence that law enforcement is mounting a propaganda campaign to convince Hawai'i legislators and the public that opening medical marijuana dispensaries is a bad idea ("L.A. police say marijuana dispensaries a failed idea," March 19). This is the first year amendments to Hawai'i's 10year old medical marijuana law have progressed in the Legislature. Opening dispensaries to provide registered patients with safe and legal access to marijuana was the number one recommendation of the Medical Cannabis Working Group. Our law permits qualifying patients to use this medical herb without providing a legal supply - thus forcing patients to go the black market to obtain their medicine. [continues 115 words]
Skip Miller's sermon on the dangers of marijuana ("Marijuana too damaging to be legalized," Jan. 31) is a compendium of distortions and discredited drug war assertions. The idea that legalization would increase substance abuse flies in the face of the evidence. We were warned that legalizing medical marijuana would dramatically increase teenage use, but an authoritative UCLA study showed that teenage use has actually decreased. Miller's claim that cannabis is a "gateway drug" has been thoroughly undone by a number of scientific reports, including a 12-year study from the University of Pittsburgh. [continues 122 words]
Thank you for your Oct. 21 editorial urging legislators to compel the governor "to accept a system for patients to gain access to marijuana without having to do business with illegal drug dealers" ("Put state pot law to use," Star-Bulletin). The governor's continuing opposition has prevented legislators from revising Hawaii's 9-year-old medical cannabis law and better serving seriously ill constituents. Now that the Obama administration is honoring the autonomy of the 14 states that have legalized medical use of cannabis, we hope that 2010 will see legislators and the governor working together to ensure that Hawaii's program fulfills the original intent of the law: to serve sick and dying patients in Hawaii. [continues 64 words]
I was shocked by Dave Shapiro's mean-spirited column on the medical marijuana task force (Sept. 16). There was no funding associated with the task force. While not a high state priority, it does show a governor thumbing her nose at legislators. Rather than "promoting its use," they are making a responsible effort to address problems with the nine-year-old program. Improvements are vital to the almost 5,000 registered patients. Many are severely ill or disabled. For Mr. Shapiro to assert that most can grow their own pot or "acquire it on the market" is disingenuous and cruel. An elderly woman diagnosed with cancer who must start chemo the next week has neither the time nor expertise to grow her own. Sending her to the black market is unrealistic and risky. This lack of access is the main problem the task force was asked to address. [continues 72 words]
Will a Government Mix-Up Create a Chilling Effect? It's been a bad couple of months for Hawai'i's medical marijuana program. First the Department of Public Safety's Narcotics Enforcement Division (NED) mistakenly released the database of all 4,200 patients to the Hawai'i Tribune Herald. Then on July 8, Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed a bill that would have set up a task force to look at problems with the program and report back to the Legislature. [continues 755 words]
Mahalo to Hawai'i's members of Congress Neil Abercrombie and Ed Case for voting "yes" on the bipartisan Hinchey-Rohrabacher medical marijuana amendment. Their votes show compassion for the 2,600 sick and dying patients in Hawai'i who rely on the medical benefits of marijuana to relieve pain and suffering, and understanding of the issues facing physicians in our state. It's time for the rest in Congress to wake up to the fact that marijuana is good medicine, as the U.S. Supreme Court acknowledged recently. The court said it's up to Congress to guarantee protection to seriously ill patients in medical marijuana programs. Time and again, polls show that huge majorities of Americans agree. [continues 61 words]
In his op ed piece of Jan. 4, Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Peter Carlisle argues for random drug testing of our students. We are all concerned about teenage drug use, but widespread drug testing is not the way to address this problem. While Mr. Carlisle describes drug testing as a way "to promote an environment where students can grow, learn and thrive," in reality, drug testing will do just the opposite. It will create an adversarial environment in which the teachers become an extension of law enforcement, and students may turn to more harmful drugs such as ice that remain in their systems for a shorter time than milder substances such as marijuana. And as for alcohol, used by over 80 percent of high school students, well, that won't be tested for at all. [continues 533 words]
Jeannette McDougal's column ("Real buzz on medical marijuana: toxic, bad" Aug. 20) is yet another litany of ill-informed assertions on the supposed dangers of medical marijuana based on propaganda and misinformation. To address some of her comments: * Patients aren't seeking the "high" that THC provides, but rather relief from pain, nausea and spasticity, as described in a 1999 Institute of Medicine report commissioned by the national drug czar. Most patients prefer the smoked version to the pill because relief occurs immediately, and they can stop when symptoms abate. Many researchers believe the whole form of cannabis may be more effective than an extract because of the interactions of its components. [continues 149 words]
Hawaii's medical marijuana law has been in effect only since the end of December and there is still much confusion about what it says, what it does and does not permit and about its relationship to federal law. Both physicians and potential patients are afraid to participate in the program.A lack of education has contributed to this fear. The fact is both physicians and patients in the program are specifically protected under the state law. The law permits "acquisition" of marijuana, but is silent on the details. It also permits patients to possess, cultivate and use marijuana for medical purposes. [continues 657 words]
I'd like to clarify my comments on the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to take the case of the Oakland, Calif., Cannabis Buyer's Club, as reported on your front page Nov. 28. I was quoted as saying that the future decision "undoubtedly will have an effect on us." Actually, any effect on Hawai`i would be only indirect. Hawai`i's new law, like those of the nine other states that now permit the medical use of marijuana, removes state-level criminal penalties for patients who fit the state's definition of bona fide users; it does not affect federal laws in any way. [continues 135 words]
Your Aug. 7 editorial, "Medical marijuana use under feds' challenge," continues the Star-Bulletin's history of trying to scare Hawaii physicians and others about our recently enacted legislation before it's even up and running. In Conant vs. McCaffery, a group of California doctors, patients and nonprofits sued the feds alleging that the government was violating their free speech rights. To date, federal judges have agreed and issued two orders barring the feds from punishing doctors for discussing cannabis with their patients. They opined that a discussion between a doctor and patient constitutes an important form of free speech. [continues 139 words]
In Conant vs. McCaffery, a group of California doctors, patients and nonprofits sued the feds alleging that the government was violating their free speech rights. To date, federal judges have agreed and issued two orders barring the feds from punishing doctors for discussing cannabis with their patients. They opined that a discussion between a doctor and patient constitutes an important form of free speech. The only thing new is that, in the most recent hearing, the feds became more strident in their threats. They warned that doctors who suggest the use of marijuana may risk their right to participate in federal programs including Medicaid, Medicare and the ability to write prescriptions. This would threaten their very livelihoods. Friday, August 25, 2000 [continues 77 words]
