I’ve been beating the drum for an emergency measure to begin a legal cannabis economy for Hawaii County. We were in a crisis before the lava, now it’s obviously much worse.
I’ve written to the governor and all County Council members, Mayor Kim, Police Chief Ferreira, etc. supporting there’s a safe, natural, sustainable and proven life boat for our sinking ship. The obvious life boat is to repeal prohibition and allow a cannabis economy to begin. There’s no need to wait for the feds. Let freedom ring!
In one day we could increase the happiness and hope of our own people and of those around the world who have watched us suffer. In 120 days we could have a world famous harvest festival attracting multi-millions of new visitor dollars. In theory, everyone’s backyard could be a “profit center” making them thousands of dollars before Thanksgiving. What’s not to like?
Colorado has sold $5 billion worth of recreational cannabis since they legalized it in 2014. Taxes collected there now pay for worthy projects.
It’s a proven fact that fewer teenagers use cannabis where it’s normalized. No forbidden fruit equals less interest.
There’s nothing else that comes close to the potential value of a legal cannabis economy. “Hawaii Cannabis,” “Puna Buttah,”“Kona Gold,” etc. are still world famous marketing brands.
It’s one thing if there is no life boat to save us. It’s quite another if the captain of the ship (governor) denies there is a life boat, or prohibits we the people from getting in it. That’s malfeasance, or misfeasance in office, or worse. It’s unacceptable. We the people demand our own survival. The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness, not in prohibition.
All the reefer madness lies and D.A.R.E. program propaganda has been debunked for marijuana. The decades-old drug war fraud has been exposed by Hawaii legally changing the name marijuana, a prejudicial word with negative racial stereotypes, to medical cannabis for the dispensaries, but it’s still marijuana when police want to arrest and prosecute ordinary people for the same plant. It’s just prohibition 2.0 and unacceptable.
Hawaii County voters passed the Peaceful Sky ballot initiative in 2008, which included 24 cannabis plants (a misdemeanor) per property as the lowest law enforcement priority. See .
That same vote would be much higher 10 years later. Now I want those 24 plants to be legal to make into healthy, useful products to sell and I’ll bet that most Hawaii County citizens do, too.
I’ve been asked by Hawaii County Councilwoman Jen Ruggles to draft a resolution to monetize a cannabis economy here now. We want this on the agenda and open to a public hearing and a vote, ASAP.
The need here is obvious and so is the remedy. Repeal prohibition and let freedom ring!
Roger Christie is a resident of Hilo.
