Pubdate: Sun, 02 Aug 2009
Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald (Hilo, HI)
Copyright: 2009 Hawaii Tribune Herald
Contact:  http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/185
Author: John Burnett
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)

MONEY FOR POT RAIDS IS DRAINED

More Than 3,000 Plants Uprooted Across Big Island

The Hawaii Police Department conducted two marijuana eradication 
missions just before the end of the fiscal year June 30.

A memo dated July 8 from Police Chief Harry Kubojiri to County 
Council Chairman J Yoshimoto said that "Counter Cannabis" field 
operations were flown June 29 in East Hawaii and June 30 in West Hawaii.

Voters last November passed a law making adult personal use of 
marijuana the lowest law enforcement priority, which said the council 
"shall not support the acceptance of any funds for the marijuana 
eradication program."

There is no money in the current fiscal year budget for marijuana 
eradication. For the fiscal year that ended June 30, $370,000 was 
earmarked for eradication plus a $159,000 statewide marijuana 
eradication grant.

Assistant Police Chief Marshall Kanehailua said Friday the money for 
the mission was from the latter grant.

"This was money that was there before," noted Lt. Richard Sherlock of 
Hilo Vice Section. "There is money for eradication."

According to police reports submitted to the council, 1,416 plants, 
from seedlings to 9 feet in height, were uprooted in East Hawaii, 
while 1,814 plants, 2 inches to 4 feet, were pulled up in West 
Hawaii. East Hawaii plots were found in Ainaloa, Hawaiian Acres, 
Hawaiian Paradise Park, Kapoho, Kurtistown, Mountain View and 
Orchidland. West Hawaii plots were in Honomalino, Kaohe, Kapulena, 
Kealia, Milolii and Puuanahulu.

The only removal that found fewer than 24 plants, the maximum number 
allowed for "personal use" under the new law, was on public land in 
Kapulena. The measure applies only to private property.

Sherlock said four helicopters involved in the East Hawaii mission -- 
two from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, one National 
Guard chopper and a private copter rented for about four hours at a 
cost of $800 per hour. All 10 of the officers involved in the 
rappelling and uprooting of the plants were local police, Sherlock said.

No arrests were made, according Sherlock.

Lt. Miles Chong, who spearheaded the Kona operation, was unavailable 
for comment.

Police say they fielded three complaints about the eradication 
choppers from East Hawaii residents and four from the West side. One 
Hawaiian Acres resident allegedly told Sherlock that he "came to 
Hawaii to die and is aggravated by 'Green Harvest.'" Sherlock wrote 
that the man told him he has medical marijuana and it was not 
bothered. The report states that the man told Sherlock he has been 
documenting the helicopters for seven years and has created a Web 
site about it. The man reportedly told Sherlock he "does not trust cops."

Sherlock wrote that a woman told him that the "silver DEA chopper" 
was "flying too low and spooking her animals" near Ihope Road in the 
Mountain View area.

"She then related that she does not live there but has been taking 
video of the helicopter and she works with Roger Christie and helped 
to pass the 'lowest priority' ordinance." Sherlock's report notes 
that Hilo Vice Detective Steven Correia called her back and the woman 
said "she wished to 'withdraw the complaint.'" The document stated: 
"She understands that police are keeping the neighborhood safer by 
eradicating illegal marijuana plants and realizes that Christie is 
lying to people."

Christie, who heads the Hawaii Cannabis Ministry, said he is 
"interested in keeping his integrity intact."

"If anyone has any complaints about me, I welcome them to contact me 
so I can apologize and make amends," he said.

West Hawaii complaints included one from an "obviously upset" woman 
who told police she fell down after helicopters flew low over her 
property. The woman told police she has high blood pressure and had 
to take medication to calm herself before calling.

Adam Lehmann, director of the Peaceful Sky Alliance, which drafted 
the lowest-law enforcement priority initiative, is pleased the 
eradication statistics have been made public.

"The initial efforts shown by the chief and the department appear to 
be sincere to the spirit of the ordinance," he said.

Sherlock said sufficient funds remain for at least one more 
eradication mission in both East and West Hawaii.

"I can't say when they're going to happen, for obvious reasons," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom