'GREEN HARVEST' HAS BEEN TOO SUCCESSFUL

Regarding your Jan. 8 story "Aid to Big Island drug lab helps police battle
dealers": So, crystal methamphetamine has evolved into the "drug of choice"
on the Big Island. Whatever happened to pakalolo?

Apparently operation "Green Harvest" has been a bit too successful. The only
clear winners in the war on marijuana are drug cartels and shameless
tough-on-drugs politicians who have built careers on confusing drug
prohibition's collateral damage with a relatively harmless plant.

Unlike alcohol, marijuana has never been shown to cause an overdose death,
nor does it share the addictive properties of tobacco. The short-term health
effects of marijuana are inconsequential compared to the long-term effects
of criminal records.

Unfortunately, marijuana represents the counterculture to misguided
reactionaries intent on legislating their version of morality. This country
cannot afford to continue subsidizing the prejudices of culture warriors.

Robert Sharpe, Program officer, Drug Policy Alliance

Washington, D.C.