AIRPORT DRUG ARRESTS WASTE RESOURCES

Mahalo so much for the informative article about the narcs at the Honolulu
International Airport ("Airport drug arrests take off," Star-Bulletin, Jan.
10). Before I read your article I had no idea that we were wasting so much
time, energy and taxpayer money busting small-time users with tiny amounts
of marijuana.

It was especially disheartening to read that the supervising narcotics
investigator was actually proud of the arrests of sick people from
California who had a doctor's authorization for marijuana use. He's proud of
increasing the pain and suffering of people already burdened with a serious
illness.

The real shame here is that while narcotics officers clog our courts with
petty marijuana cases from the airport, real criminals are robbing our homes
and stealing our cars. Car thefts are up 43 percent and burglaries 15
percent over 2001's already high rates. It's a lot easier arresting the sick
and infirm than to protect the public against hardened criminals who fight
back.

Alex Miedzwiadok

Waikiki