MARIJUANA MEASURE MAY LEAD TO MORE USE

The issue: The Legislature has approved use of marijuana for medical
purposes.

Our view: The measure may lead to increased use of marijuana for non-medical
purposes.

THE Legislature has passed, and Governor Cayetano is expected to sign, a
bill legalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

The measure was approved despite opposition by law enforcement agencies and
the Hawaii Medical Association. Police officers said it would be difficult
to deal with abuses of the medical-use exception. The HMA pointed out that
marijuana has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and that
its use for medical purposes remains illegal under federal law.

The bill does not eliminate the ban on cultivation, sale and use of
marijuana for nonmedical purposes, but its passage could be the foot in the
door for legislation removing all such restrictions.

A sign that support for such legislation may be gaining momentum comes from
the Big Island, where most of the marijuana produced in the state is
believed to be grown. The Hawaii County Council voted 6-3 Tuesday to defer
acceptance of $265,000 in federal funds to help conduct police 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. Arakaki and Smith said
the state should assume responsibility for the raids because they are
carried out by police from across Hawaii with the help of the Hawaii
National Guard and federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents.

In previous votes on the issue, the council had usually been divided. The
votes of Arakaki and Smith tipped the balance.

Assistant Police Chief Wendell Paiva said failure to accept the money will
affect eradication efforts because police rely on the funding to hire
helicopters, purchase equipment and pay for overtime. But he said the Green
Harvest raids, which have been conducted in various forms since 1976, will
continue.

In what may have been an indication of public sentiment on the marijuana
issue, all of the private citizens who addressed the council opposed
accepting the federal funds. Councilman Aaron Chung said he received 13
letters on the issue, and only one was in support of acceptance.

Clearly militant opinion on marijuana, at least on the Big Island, is on the
side of approval. Whatever the silent majority may think is another matter,
but the vocal people get the politicians' attention.

Although the debate over its effects continues, marijuana is not a harmless
drug, particularly when smoked. If efforts to destroy marijuana plants
dwindle, production -- and usage -- can be expected to increase
significantly, and with the increase will come an increase in related health
problems.

Is that what the people of Hawaii want?

We doubt it.