COMMITTEE OK'S MORE POT ERADICATION MONEY

Hilo, Ha wai'i - The County Council Finance Committee approved a measure
Wednesday to accept more federal funds for the marijuana eradication program
despite objections from hemp advocates who have filed an impeachment
petition against six council members and Mayor Yamashiro.

The committee also accepted a special study by the County Legislative
Auditor's office, which concluded Big Island police were following grant
conditions and the county didn't have jurisdiction to conduct a critical
review of the eradication program.

Both matters still must be approved by the full council. The items likely
will appear on an agenda later this month.

A resolution authorizing the county to accept an additional $55,000 from the
U.S. Justice Department passed, 5-3. Kona council members Curtis Tyler and
Nancy Pissichio, along with Julie Jacobson from Ka'u, voted against the
measure. Those three council members also aren't named in the impeachment
petition. Jacobson also voted against accepting the special study.

Pissichio said South Kona residents are cynical about the program, because
they don't feel it helps solve the problem and are annoyed by low-flying
helicopters.

Most committee members supported more funding and accepted the study despite
the pending impeachment hearing. A preliminary hearing is scheduled Oct. 8
in Hilo Circuit Court.

Kohala Councilman Leningrad Elarionoff said the special study's results have
"doubled his resolve" to support the eradication.

Finance Committee Chairman Aaron Chung said critics' attention to the
program gives police little margin for error.

"It alerts the Police Department that the council members and the people are
watching the program really closely," Chung said.

One of the complaints listed in the impeachment petition was that the
council failed to conduct a program review of the eradication efforts as
mandated by the County Charter. The petition also alleges the special study
is flawed because it is designed to come up with a favorable conclusion for
the police.

The study and some council members contend the budget review of the Hawaii
County Police Department, which receives the grants, qualifies as the
program review.

In his testimony before the committee, Pahoa hemp entrepreneur Roger
Christie urged the members not to accept the special study, because it
didn't address the social effects of marijuana eradication.

"In my estimation, it's an attempt to hijack county government away from our
citizens," Christie said.

Christie, one of the leaders of the impeachment movement, said eradication
has led to increased use of harder drugs.

Jonathan Adler, a medical marijuana advocate who plans to run for mayor in
2000, put on an alien mask at the end of his testimony, in which he asked
the committee to deny the special study.

Puna resident Aaron Anderson said it wasn't a marijuana issue, but a matter
of following the County Charter.

"We're totally willing to let a program review speak for itself," he said.

Big Island police testified the eradication efforts have reduced the number
of marijuana plants on the Big Island.

Lt. Robert Hickcox, head of the Kona vice section, said between 15,000 -
20,000 plants in West Ha wai'i were confiscated during missions in the early
80's. He said current missions yield an average of about 2,000 plants.

"A lot of people involved in growing have given up and moved to other areas
of the island or the mainland," Hickcox said.