ASSAULT INTERRUPTS POLICE HEARING ON NEW BIG ISLAND PAKALOLO RULES

A Marijuana Supporter Allegedly Punched And Kicked 2 People

HILO -- Speakers praising the spiritual aspects of marijuana at a police
hearing yesterday were interrupted when a marijuana supporter allegedly
punched and kicked two others outside the meeting.

A police captain and two lieutenants were holding a hearing on new rules
governing marijuana eradication and medical marijuana when the incident
took place outside the Hawaii County Council room.

Legalization advocate Aaron Anderson burst into the hearing asking for
police help.

In the hallway, Anderson said, fellow advocate Roger Christie was
arguing with advocate Dwight Kondo when Kondo threw feigned punches at
Christie.

Christie said Kondo then jabbed him in the thigh with his knee.

When Anderson approached, Kondo punched him in the body, Anderson said.

While they described the events, Kondo shouted: "Why don't you say the
truth? Damn hypocrites! Lies!"

Kondo later said "nothing much" happened. "I didn't punch anybody."

The County Council this week voted to give Anderson and Christie a
$75,000 settlement of their lawsuit, which accused Prosecutor Jay Kimura
of violating their civil rights by charging them with marijuana
possession for buying sterilized hemp seed bird food.

Kondo said the disturbance had nothing to do with the settlement.
Christie said it was caused by a "personal feud."

The disturbance followed several hours of advocates praising marijuana,
often using the scientific name cannabis.

Kondo told police: "Life on earth as I know it is not worth it as long
as cannabis is illegal. Life without cannabis is hell."

The Rev. B.Z. Evans said, "Human civilization wouldn't have developed
without the cannabis plant."

Government watchdog Henry Ross was one of the few with specific comments
on the rules. He called for a list of definitions, such as the meaning
of a "mature" marijuana plant.

Recovering cancer patient Bob Reichman said a proposed rule appears to
allow police to seize medical marijuana, forcing a patient to go to
court to get it back. The marijuana should not be seized, he said.

Capt. James Day said police will consider possible revisions, then
present the rules to Mayor Harry Kim for approval, hopefully by the end
of the month.