LAWMAKERS NOT SWAYED BY CALIFORNIA'S PASSAGE OF DRUG-TREATMENT PLAN

Authors of a recently passed California initiative to put nonviolent drug
offenders into treatment instead of prison preached to a crowd of believers
at Kaumakapili Church.

The speakers last night failed to make converts out of two Hawaii
legislators whose response was "not in my constituents' back yards."

"I'm not going to endanger my community by having these people treated in
their backyards without having the security issue addressed," said Rep.
Nestor Garcia (D, Waipahu).

"The people I represent want to see affirmative action," said Sen. Colleen
Hanabusa (D, Waianae). "They want to see them (drug abusers) out of the
community; they don't want them to come back."

"They don't want to believe it is like an illness. They consider (drug
users) as people tormenting them, ruining their neighborhoods," she said.

Bill Zimmerman and Dan Abrahamson described Proposition 36 to a supportive
crowd of about 60 at a public panel discussion sponsored by the Drug Policy
Forum of Hawaii and other organizations.

'Drug War Hasn't Worked'

Some 61 percent of California voters last year approved the initiative
which will put people arrested for drug abuse not tied to other criminal
charges into rehabilitative treatment instead of prison. Voters approved
spending $120 million annually for five years, plus $60 million to build up
treatment capacity.

Zimmerman said California politicians also opposed the idea, but a
statewide public opinion poll revealed that the "political system is
lagging behind" but the "public has come to understand we have spent $300
billion supporting the drug war and it hasn't worked."

The politicians are coming around, he said.

Weakened Hawaii Legislation

There is no citizens' ballot initiative in Hawaii. Gov. Ben Cayetano
proposed implementing similar legislation here, providing first-time
offenders be diverted to treatment instead of prison. But bills in both
houses of the Legislature have been watered down by excluding crystal
methamphetamine users, a major portion of Hawaii drug abusers.

Lawmakers also inserted language providing for prison as an incentive to
seek rehabilitation.

Hanabusa told the crowd: "I believe the Legislature believes the
rehabilitation part has to go forward." But before lawmakers could
appropriate money to expand treatment facilities, "we would have to
convince (voters) that what is spent, they will get back in reduction in crime.

"My community lives this issue," she said.

Garcia, chairman of Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee, said:
"I'm not quite sure my friends at Salvation Army, or Hina Mauka or Fresh
Start are equipped to take these kinds of people in. Especially when people
in their neighborhoods find these kind of people are being treated in their
backyards."

Hanabusa said that even though the current bills are a "compromise in the
language ... we've got to take a first step."