MARIJUANA ERADICATION CAMPAIGN IS THREATENED

The issue: The Big Island marijuana eradication campaign is threatened
by a decision of the Hawaii County Council and a state senator's
condition for the release of state funds.

Our view: Developments indicate progress for the campaign to legalize
marijuana.

COULD the Legislature's approval of marijuana for medical purposes be
the first step toward full legalization? Two developments last week
related to the police campaign to destroy marijuana plants on the Big
Island -- Operation Green Harvest -- seem to lead in that direction.

The Hawaii County Council voted 6-3 to defer acceptance of $265,000 in
federal funds to help finance the marijuana raids. Council Chairman
Jimmy Arakaki and Vice Chairman Al Smith, who had previously voted to
approve other marijuana eradication grants, voted to defer action,
citing concern about county liability. They said the state should
assume responsibility for the raids.

However, Sen. Andy Levin, chairman of the powerful Ways and Means
Committee, said he will block funding for the marijuana eradication
campaign unless state officials satisfy complaints that the
helicopters used in the campaign are noisy and invade residents'
privacy. Levin, who represents a Big Island district, admits he
doesn't want Green Harvest to continue, but says he is "hoping to
start a dialogue" between the state and the community.

Gary Moniz, chief of enforcement for the state Department of Land and
Natural Resources, said the state will comply with the requirement of
community meetings. But it looks as though the noise issue will be
used as a pretext to shut down helicopter operations, which are
essential to the campaign.

State sanction of marijuana for medical purposes is problematic
because such use remains illegal under federal law and because
marijuana has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Moreover, it would complicate enforcement of the state general ban on
marijuana because of the danger that the medical exemption would be
abused.

This would be less disturbing if it were accompanied by official
affirmations of continuing determination to enforce the law against
marijuana except for medical purposes.

Instead we get a county council vote to defer action on acceptance of
federal funding for Green Harvest and a state senator blocking release
of funds until complaints about helicopter noise and invasions of
privacy are satisfied.

Crippling Green Harvest operations would give the green light to
growers to step up their efforts. That would probably mean an increase
in supply and a drop in price, which would encourage more consumption.
Legalization of marijuana for medical purposes could create problems
for police trying to distinguish between legitimate use and abuse.

Advocates of legalized marijuana should be encouraged. The signs
suggest they are making progress. The rest of us should be worried
that marijuana use may become even more widespread.