Unfair prosecution shouldn’t be
Why is local resident Michael Ruggles being prosecuted for helping provide medical marijuana to state licensed patients?
In the state of Hawaii, there are no dispensaries open yet. Patients who aren’t able to grow their own medical marijuana have no way to get their medicine.
Through his collective model, Mr. Ruggles allowed patients to avoid going over their limit of four ounces by transferring excess medical marijuana to other patients who needed some.
In the interest of justice, Judge Greg Nakamura should dismiss the criminal charges against Mr. Ruggles.
Rev. Eric Hafner
Mountain View
Graffiti cleanup deserves appreciation
As the saying goes, “no good deed goes unpunished.” Those who worked to clean up the coral graffiti along the Queen Kaahumanu Highway should be thanked, not put down.
One reader recently asked which is worse: the coral graffiti or the new paint graffiti that replaced it? The answer is both are unacceptable. Had the graffiti not started in the first place, chances are we wouldn’t be dealing with this problem today.
What next? The Daniel K. Inouye Highway?
What started out as an occasional (and probably innocent) “coral expression” turned out to be an unmanageable eyesore stretching for miles and miles along what was once a beautiful, clean highway, named in honor of one of Hawaii’s revered queens. The roadside graffiti — then and now — is another form of vandalism.
Mahalo to those who have attempted to restore the highway’s appearance. It was the pono thing to do. Imua! Malama ka aina!
Likeke Bumanglag
Kailua-Kona
A letter from Las Vegas to Hawaii
To the citizens of the State of Hawaii:
Thank you so much for the tremendous benefit to the people of Las Vegas, and the economy of the Silver State, courtesy of the Aloha State’s residents.
As an example, why do so many people from Hawaii come to Las Vegas to spend their money on hotel rooms, meals, shows and playing the slots, cards and other games? This doesn’t even consider the cost of booking a plane ticket to Las Vegas from Honolulu. And why is this so?
Please extend our sincere appreciation to your elected state officials and the League of Women Voters who don’t like to gamble, yet have a major problem with anyone partaking. So please thank these folks for allowing their constituents and others to foot the bill for all those great public service items us here in Las Vegas enjoy. But please remember that these “gifts” are only paid for by those residents (of Hawaii) that want to pay us. No one is forced to contribute. But knowing how gullible people are, most will get on the plane and willingly fly here to give us all their hard-earned money.
Thanks Hawaii for not offering the same games of chance back home; that way they continue to come to Vegas. And who needs the money more, Hawaii or Nevada?
How can we ever thank you for occupancy rates that consistently overwhelm even our expectations? Also thanks for maximizing all our restaurants and showrooms. We might not have a beach, but we have things here in the 9th Island that everyone can enjoy! (Except homelessness!)
And please, never approve any form of gambling back home in the Aloha State.
Mahalo!
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau
Michael Last
Naalehu