ACLU AND DRUG POLICY FORUM CONDEMN RAIDS ON MEDICAL POT USERS

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai'i (ACLU) and the Drug Policy
Forum of Hawai'i (DPFH) have joined a chorus of voices throughout the state
protesting the unwarranted harassment of legally registered Big Island
patients who use medical marijuana.

"Since July 8th there have two raids on Big Islanders who hold medical
marijuana certificates issued by the Department of Public Safety," said
Donald Topping, President of DPFH. "This intrusive behavior on the part of
the Hawai'i County police is an unconscionable attack on sick people who
have been certified by a physician and are using marijuana legally to treat
their ailments."

ACLU Legal Director Brent White deplored the "out of control" behavior of
the police who recently arrested three patients in North Kona, one of whom
had just returned from a two week bout of chemotherapy on O'ahu.

In the second raid, in the Puna district, a police officer rappelled from a
helicopter and destroyed 3 of 7 plants that were growing in the patient's
yard.

In both cases the police alleged that the patients had more than the legal
number of plants. State law permits three "mature" plants and four
"immature" ones per registered patient. Patient advocates, as well as
botanists, believe it is inappropriate for police officers to make this
determination.

White and Topping noted that Big Island Mayor Harry Kim signed two sets of
rules on July 19 which govern procedures for cannabis eradication and for
medical marijuana claimants.

The signing took place after the raids and was likely designed to mollify
public opinion which has been strongly critical of the police activities.
Despite the signing, residents of Puna Palisades plan to deliver a petition
to Mayor Kim protesting the police behavior.

"We hope," said White, "that implementation of these rules, which were
drafted by Hawai'i County Police and have been sitting unsigned on the
Mayor's desk since April, will put a halt to the overly aggressive behavior
of the Big Island police." Call DPFH at 988-4386 or ACLU at 808-522-5907 for
more information.