KEIKI, YOUTH GROUPS STILL SHOW AFTER CANCELLATION

Supporters Of Lighter Marijuana Laws, Medical Use Provide Alternative
Points Of View

LIHU'E - Medical marijuana user Aukai Edens watched quietly from his
wheelchair, as a group of children shouted "We want to be drug-free!"
at passing cars on Rice Street.

I'm glad they want to be drug-free and I hope they never end up in a
wheelchair," said Edens' mom, Kaiulani.

Six years ago, 27-year-old Edens broke his neck after jumping off a
bridge, Kaiulani said at an anti-drug rally held at the historic
County Building on Thursday afternoon.

I'm appalled they're using children for this issue," she added. "They
don't understand that this issue isn't about being anti-drugs. This
is about being anti-medical marijuana."

Originally meant to be hosted by county officials, the rally was
canceled due to a weather advisory and a complaint from the American
Civil Liberties Union. County councilman Mel Rapozo then reinstated
the rally as a member of the community. The purpose of the
demonstration, according to the county, was intended to inform the
public about several pending marijuana bills that would decriminalize
limited possession and allow for island dispensaries.

While the rally went on around him, Rapozo said he disagreed with
Kaiulani Edens' assessment.

This is not about medical marijuana. I support medical marijuana for
debilitating diseases," Rapozo said.

This is about the state trying to soften our drug laws to make
marijuana more accessible to the people who don't have debilitating diseases."

He added he is upset that the county attempted to shut down the rally
hours before it started. Because of it, an expected turnout of 400 or
500 people dwindled to less than 100 - including a small group of
pro-marijuana demonstrators, children from the Boys & Girls Club of
Lihu'e, parents and a church pastor.

Matt Higa, the pastor of New Hope Kaua'i, said he attended the rally
to support a drug-free Kaua'i.

I'm a former user and I know that marijuana is the gateway drug,"
Higa said. "It is the initiator to the use of more illegal substances.

Can you imagine your bus driver, your EMS, your airline pilots, your
doctors, your nurses, your dentists high on marijuana because now it's legal?"

Aukai Edens said something that grows out of the ground shouldn't be forbidden.

Tomatoes, corn, fruit - you might as well put them on the list, too,"
he said. "The real problem is pharmaceutically, chemically produced drugs."

Another marijuana supporter, Amalia Gray of Kapa'a, stood with Edens
and others who had gathered away from the chanting children.

I'm a nurse and I know people who have benefited greatly from medical
marijuana," Gray said.

The children who attended the event and their caretakers seemed
unclear about whether the rally was about drugs, marijuana
legalization or medical marijuana.

Angela Agustin, a program assistant for the Boys & Girls Club, said
the club got an e-mail from Theresa Koki, the county's anti-drug
coordinator, asking them to participate. Mike Miranda, the program
director, said he wanted to bring the keiki because of the anti-drug sentiment.

I thought it was important to bring the kids because it's important
to give the kids a consistent message that drugs are bad for them.
.. Substances like marijuana are not good for people their age," Miranda said.

Carrying a pink sign stating "Honk to stop drugs" 10-year-old Karmela
Buenconsejo said she didn't know much about the issues behind the
rally. But she did understand what it meant to be anti-drug. She said
she heard that a new law could put "marijuana stands" around the island.

We're against that," she said. "I think the rally is good because it
teaches us that drugs don't do any good for you."