CAYETANO WON'T 'SECOND GUESS' POLICE IN MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT

HONOLULU (AP) -- Gov. Ben Cayetano said Thursday he won't ''second guess''
Big Island police in their enforcement of marijuana laws, which has included
raids on homes of people with state permits for medical use of the drug.

''The matter will be adjudicated in court,'' he said.

The Hawaii Legislature two years ago became the first to pass a law
approving the possession and use of marijuana for medical purposes. Under
state rules, certified patients are allowed to possess up to three ounces of
marijuana and to grow up to seven plants -- three mature and four immature.

''If the state or county is charging people with the use of marijuana, they
must believe they have some evidence to demonstrate that it is not in
accordance with the rules and regulations or the state's law,'' Cayetano
said.

Three Kona residents arrested for possession despite holding state medical
marijuana permits filed a lawsuit against Hawaii County police last month,
alleging they were falsely arrested.

Kealoha Wells and John and Rhonda Robison were arrested July 8 at their
residence in North Kona. They were released without charges after being held
for eight hours, but police said charges are still possible.

Guy Shepard of Puna, who also has a state-issued permit, earlier complained
he was being unfairly targeted when police raided his Leilani Estates home
by helicopter and seized two of his seven plants and destroyed a third. He
was not arrested.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii and the Drug Policy Forum of
Hawaii have protested what they called ''unwarranted harassment'' of legally
registered medical marijuana users. ACLU Legal Director Brent White
condemned the ''out of control'' behavior of the Big Island police.