DISCUSSION OF POT RULES ENFORCEMENT

Proposed marijuana enforcement regulations are described by some as
adequate given existing laws, but others who advocate pot use for
various purposes claim the draft rules infringe on religious freedom.

Suggested regulations governing "green harvest" operations, as well as
medical and religious use of marijuana in Hawaii County, will be
discussed during a 10 a.m. hearing Jan. 3, in the conference room at
Kealakehe Police Station.

The draft rules are available at the County Council office in Kailua -
Kona.

Prompted by a resolution co - sponsored by Councilmen Gary Safarik of
Puna and Curtis Tyler of North Kona, the Police Department assembled
rules to address increasing concern about marijuana eradication and
enforcement policies.

Despite county and state laws to the contrary, federal laws are clear:
Marijuana remains illegal. And neither county nor state law can
supersede federal statutes.

Police Lt. Henry Tavares said the rules put into writing the current
police practices. They were drafted with the input of county law
officials, including county Prosecutor Jay T. Kimura, who Wednesday
did not return two messages.

"These rules would provide guidance for investigating officers who
come upon marijuana," Tavares said, "or who are participating in
eradication operations."

Proposed eradication rules require, among other things, helicopters
remain 1,000 feet above ground level, or 500 feet if probable cause
exists. They also prohibit aerial herbicide spraying and require
helicopters and personnel to be clearly marked "police."

Draft medical use rules place limits on the amount of marijuana one
can possess and require patients to have a registry card from the
Department of Public Safety. Rules concerning religious use say all
arrests shall be based upon probable cause and courts shall decide the
validity of a suspect's claims.

Tavares said eradication rules already are being followed, while
supervisors answer questions by officers about medical and religious
use on a case - by - case basis.

Safarik said the draft rules, which he supports, are the best the
police could do given existing laws. He said the eradication rules
have addressed residents' concerns and medical use rules are based on
laws passed by the Legislature.

"But on the religious issue," Safarik said, "I believe the only people
who can change things to the satisfaction of those who use marijuana
as a sacrament are the Supreme Court of the United States."

Safarik said there is ample evidence marijuana provides relief for
certain medical conditions. "But that is such a small segment of our
population, and that's why people are certified by a doctor."

However, Safarik said to go any further on the religious rights issue
would overstep the county's powers. "The police must following that
law," he said. "I feel what has been drafted complies with the law and
what we crafted as a resolution."

Jerry Rothstein of Kailua - Kona said the draft rules are opposite
what the council mandate sought. "They are police - friendly, rather
than user - friendly," he said.

Rothstein said the draft regulations do not fulfill condition seven on
the council resolution, which calls for written rules about any part
of marijuana use protected by state and federal constitutions.

"In both the U.S. and Hawaii Constitutions there is something called
freedom of religion," Rothstein said. "When it says religious freedom,
the presumption is, it's legitimate. But the first word in the rules
is 'arrest.' "

Rothstein said his religion, "Ynited Cannabist Academy," meets all
parameters of a legitimate religion as stated in a Hawaii Supreme
Court case called State v. Blake. The requirements, Rothstein said,
are the religion must be legitimate, the user sincere and the use of
marijuana a required sacrament.

While Rothstein said he has smoked marijuana for 35 years, Ynited
Cannabist Academy, which he said he formed three years ago, is sincere
with all the components of a religion, including practices, prayers,
teachings and declarations.

"Who's to say my religion is not legitimate, and who am I to say
someone else's isn't," he said. "I don't want the cops to knock down
my door, mess up my stuff and force me to go to court to prove I have
the right to exercise my religion."

Rev. Dennis Shields of Kona said the council asked police to draft
rules respecting constitutional rights of those who use marijuana for
religious purposes in their own homes.

Instead, Shields said, proposed rules say the police would not
recognize a suspect's claim of protection under the First Amendment,
nor would they determine if the requirements of state v. Blake were
satisfied. "The rules say they will immediately arrest you," he said.

Shields, who said he has been a member of the Religion of Jesus Church
since 1973, said the police should deal with their own problems before
infringing upon the constitutional rights of Big Islanders.

"I'm not alone in the community in recognizing a crisis of honor in
our Police Department," Shields said. "The meeting will be held in the
very building where $50,000 in evidence was stolen. There's Carvalho
(promotion rigging), and down in Ka'u, a girl is claiming police were
dealing ice.

"The police should get the corruption out of their own house before
they take the medicine or sacrament out of mine," Shields said.

Safarik said the best situation would be vigorous enforcement of drug
laws, compassion when necessary, and readily available drug
rehabilitation programs.

"We have a tremendous drug problem on the Big Island, and it scares
me," said Safarik, pointing out the recent ****** arrests. "The police
are doing the best they can with the resources they have, but we need
a more vigorous stance on the harder drugs like ice and ******."


Newshawk: Sledhead
Pubdate: Thu, 27 Dec 2001
Source: West Hawaii Today (HI)
Copyright: 2001 West Hawaii Today
Contact: wht@aloha.net
Website: http://westhawaiitoday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/644
Author: Bobby Command
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