GROUPS SHOULD ADDRESS BROAD DRUG STRATEGY

THE ISSUE - The Lingle administration is planning a conference of interested
groups to help develop a plan to combat crystal methamphetamine.

LT. Gov. Duke Aiona is organizing a major conference this summer to develop
a strategy for fighting the use of crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," an
illicit drug that has plagued Hawaii for years. The conference should not be
limited to crystal meth. Participants need to consider a broad range of
approaches to the islands' drug problems as they affect different segments
of society.

Aiona, a former state Drug Court judge, is a strong proponent of
substance-abuse treatment instead of incarceration for many drug offenders,
an essential ingredient in any strategy. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo
says crystal meth is Hawaii's most serious health problem, estimating that
30,000 Honolulu residents are hard-core users.

New findings by the Justice Department show that Honolulu, for the third
year in a row, had the highest percentage among 36 metropolitan areas of
arrested males testing positive for ice -- 44.8 percent from January to
September of last year, up from 37.4 percent in 2001. The percentage was far
above the 33.5 percent of second-place Sacramento, Calif.

Those new figures follow studies conducted by the state Department of Health
showing that the percentage of high school seniors who reported having tried
methamphetamine has gradually decreased from 11.7 percent in 1989 to 5.3
percent last year. While ice usage has been growing among adults, young
people seem to have turned to a cousin of crystal meth. The studies showed
the use of Ecstasy among seniors rose from 5.3 percent five years ago to
10.6 percent last year.

The use of both of these drugs is of growing concern in Hawaii. The Bush
administration seems addicted to the old war against "reefer madness,"
although rates of marijuana use are the lowest in 19 years. Fortunately, a
House committee has rejected a proposal supported by the White House that
would shift federal drug-enforcement money from state and local police
departments in Hawaii and other states that have legalized marijuana for
medical use.

Also, a federal judge in California on Thursday sentenced a grower of
marijuana for medical purposes to a single day in jail and a $1,000 fine,
the lowest penalty under the law. A spokesman for the Drug Enforcement
Agency said the sentence would not deter the agency from aggressively
pursuing prosecution of medical marijuana growers, even though they are in
compliance with state laws.

Operation Green Harvest, a state and county program from 1976 through the
1990s aimed at eradicating marijuana production on the Big Island, is blamed
by some for causing drug users to turn to hard drugs. Crystal meth
production, achieved with a high school chemistry kit -- a Bunsen burner,
beakers and household chemicals -- is easier to conceal. The Hawaii County
Council stopped the program three years ago, turning back federal money.