BIG ISLE AMBIVALENCE LEADS TO POT WAR LAG

It's harvest time on the Big Island for what once was called its
biggest industry: the illegal marijuana crop. And for the first time in
24 years, it appears pakalolo farmers will have a field day.

The forces of greed and self-indulgence being as strong as they are, no
one really expected police ever to succeed in total eradication of the
marijuana industry. But since 1976, a combined law enforcement
operation called Operation Green Harvest has more than kept it in
check.

Now a bizarre development threatens to halt the marijuana eradication
project. Six County Council members underwent an impeachment attempt
last year in an action brought by critics of eradication efforts. That
action ultimately was thrown out of court.

But the council members are afraid it could happen again - really
afraid, since they were personally responsible for their individual
legal fees in the case.

The Hawai`i County Police Department received a $265,000 check, the
federal contribution to the eradication effort. The council members
wanted to accept it, but the eradication critics vowed to mount a new
impeachment effort if they did.

So council members tentatively agreed to accept the check, provided a
portion of it could be used to purchase insurance to cover their legal
fees if they faced new impeachment charges. No such insurance could be
found, so the check has been sent back to the feds. That essentially
cripples Operation Green Harvest.

What concerns us is not so much the details of Big Island law, which
provides county legal support for council members in the event of
recall, but not for impeachment. A well-meaning and motivated citizenry
will find its way around such obstacles if it wants to.

No, the wider problem seems to be the widespread ambivalence on the Big
Island on the subject of marijuana in particular and law enforcement in
general. Ultimately, Big Island residents are going to enjoy the kind
of police services, and therefore the kind of safety and serenity, they
are willing to support.

One would have thought the movement to impeach the council members for
trying to fight marijuana would have been seen by the vast majority of
citizens asa not-so-funny joke. Instead, many folks seem to think
there's something to it.

Some welcome the huge infusion of cash a resurgence of the industry
will mean for the economy. Others are put out by noisy helicopters and
intrusive cops. There's a lot of distrust for the Hawai`i County Police
Department, or factions within it.

But there's no way to stamp out a crime that has tacit support from the
community.

And it's wishful thinking to suppose that the drug industry is
unrelated to the series of vicious crimes that have occurred on the Big
Island in recent years. And it's wishful thinking to suppose that
marijuana doesn't play a part in that mix.