PEACEFUL SKY ALLIANCE SUPPORTS COUNCILMAN GREENWELL’S EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA  December 15, 2009

This resolution 281-009 proposed by Mr. Greenwell has the primary focus of addressing the need to decriminalize the use of Cannabis in Hawaii.

Councilman Greenwell of District 8, Hawaii County

The Peaceful Sky Alliance supports Mr. Greenwell’s resolution. We have specific recommendations for Mr. Greenwell as to how he can improve this legislation so that it addresses specific Hawaii Statutes that require harsh penalties and create criminals out of otherwise law-abiding citizens and we will be submitting these to the Hawaii County Council when the bill appears for first reading before a committee

Mr. Greenwell’s resolution reflects the mood of the country at large and we see it as a positive step recognizing the inappropriate and harsh sentencing for marijuana use.

Such measures of decriminalizing as proposed in Resolution 281 represent cost-saving measures because resources can be better directed towards more pressing matters of community safety and wellbeing.

Here in Hawaii County, the Peaceful Sky Alliance continues to identify for the Council violations of the Lowest Law Enforcement Priority of Cannabis Ordinance. The County needs to implement this voter initiative, which is the ‘first step’ in the process Mr. Greenwell proposes for decriminalization in the County of Hawaii. Today, December 15, 2009 represents another opportunity for Board Members to address this matter with Hawaii County Council and remind them of their obligations.

Peaceful Sky Alliance will make specific suggestions to Mr. Greenwell and the Council regarding amendments that would cite specific statutes of Hawaii State law that should be revised, amended or repealed in order to remove harsh and unjust penalties for use of Cannabis.

Further, we hope that in a revision of this Resolution, Mr Greenwell could specifically mention the urgent need to address the problem of ICE in our community. A study performed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse 1991-1994 final report (ICE and Other Methamphetamine Use: An exploratory Study) showed findings that the effect of marijuana eradication was to drive up the street price of Cannabis and cause a rise in use of methamphetamines which became a cheaper alternative to Cannabis.

Mahalo to Councilman Greenwell for proposing Resolution 281-09. We applaud him for his leadership and the steps he is taking to  legislate that the personal use of Cannabis by responsible adults in the State of Hawaii be decriminalized.

CONTACT: Peaceful Sky Alliance Vice President   – Matthew Rifkin

Phone: 917 378 9123
email: peacefulskyhawaii@gmail.com
www.peacefulskyalliance.org

Breckenridge is a ski-resort town near Denver Colorado that just passed an ordinance to decriminalize Cannabis at the same time that the voters in Hawaii County passed one here. It looks like the Breckenridge Police Chief is better prepared to get behind such a law than our own Police Chief who has yet to issue a public statement in support of this law.

A new set of marijuana laws is nearing approval in Breckenridge, where possession of the drug and paraphernalia by people over 21 is to be decriminalized Jan. 1.

The regulations would make public display and consumption of marijuana punishable by a $100 fine and up to 15 days in jail.

Breckenridge police chief Rick Holman said he doesn’t foresee much change in the town that, in 2008, issued only 10 tickets for possession of small amounts of marijuana and four for possession of paraphernalia under the municipal laws.“We’ve never had a high incidence of public display and use in Breckenridge,” he said. “I don’t expect that to change.” Holman acknowledged that “some people are mis-educated” about what passed in this month’s ballot initiative for decriminalization.

Use of marijuana at Breckenridge Ski Resort remains illegal under the Colorado Ski Safety Act. The town will continue to prohibit selling and driving under the influence of the drug. The town on its website explains that non-medical marijuana possession still violates state laws, and that the local police “may still exercise, at their discretion, the authority to charge those in violation of state or federal law.”

Holman has said such enforcement would vary depending on the situation.Unlike the city of Denver — which decriminalized pot in 2005 — the Breckenridge town code will specifically allow for people over 21 to possess paraphernalia.The draft to which town council gave preliminary approval on Tuesday also allows for transfer without sale of less than an ounce of marijuana between people. Sale of marijuana remains a felony.Possession between 1 ounce and 8 ounces is still to be a misdemeanor in the town, with possession of more than 8 ounces a felony.Election results earlier this month reflect about 71 percent of town residents who voted favored decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana.

This is what the ‘Drug War’ has done to our Law Enforcement’s sense of what it is important to be focusing on. Do you see what happened to the arrest rates in California  for rape, murder and other crimes including ‘all other drug sales’? They went down.What went up, according to these statistics was the arrest rate for Cannabis (marijuana) posession. It went up 127%!

This is a map of the USA showing where Cannabis offenses are already a lower priority for Law Enforcement.

Our recent ordinance passed on November 4, 2008 was a message from the voters in Hawaii County that they want to see a change in the priorities of law enforcement. They want to take ‘Cannabis Offenses’ off the highest priority list and help our Police and Prosecutions get their focus off of ‘pot’ and back where it belongs.. on the welfare of the community.

That’s why counties and municipalities all over the country are passing or have passed similar legislation. They realize that there is

something wrong with the fact that so much money and time is spent going after people who use Cannabis. They don’t believe it is a dangerous drug. They don’t even believe that the people who use it are ‘criminals’.

The Drug War isn’t working for a lot of us out here and we are the ones whose taxes pay your salaries.. so please listen up.

Could this be a sign?

Gratitude begins right here

We are thankful to all the people in Hawaii County who believe that our County could be ‘better’… more compassionate, more secure, more peaceful & more prosperous.

We are thankful to people who, for 30 years have worked to see an end to ‘Green Harvest’ in Hawaii County.

We are thankful for the 35,000 voters who came out and said ‘something isn’t right about this’ and who voted and passed this ordinance into law.

We are thankful for the people who haven’t given up on the fact that this is a County Law and they are willing to work to make sure it is fully implemented.

We are thankful for each and every opportunity we have to participate in government and to identify where we think it could be ‘better’, fairer and more compassionate.

We are thankful for an ordinance that makes way for some major changes in the way government is done here in the County of Hawaii.

We are thankful to all the people everywhere who have stood up for the truth about a plant that never should have been schedule 1 (as dangerous as heroin).

We are thankful for all the freedoms and liberties we have in a democracy to participate in making a better government for now and for the future.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Peaceful Sky Alliance!

Mr. Kimura, please stop prosecuting cases of 'Adult Personal Use.'

The story of what happened to Seattle’s Chief Prosecutor who lost his job because he disrespected the Lowest Law Enforcement Priority of Cannabis Ordinance passed by Seattle voters:
Nobody bawled into their pillow last election night like City Attorney Tom Carr, an eight-year incumbent with the backing of labor unions and city hall, who was trounced by a 26-point margin. “I’m stunned. I thought this would be a tight race,” said challenger Pete Holmes after seeing the first batch of results.

Carr chalked up his drubbing to an “anti-incumbent year.” But that makes less than zero sense, considering Richard Conlin won a fourth term on the city council with over 77 percent support and Nick Licata coasted easily to a third term.

Voters were sick, specifically, of Carr’s bullshit: cracking down on popular clubs, ignoring a voter-approved measure to stop prosecuting marijuana-possession cases, subpoenaing reporters to name confidential sources, and pushing cases for years after the city should have dropped them.

In voting for Holmes, Seattle instituted a new directive for the city attorney, who acts as the city’s primary lawyer and prosecutes misdemeanors in the municipal court. Holmes vowed on the campaign trail to represent the wishes of the people. He’ll stop all pot-­possession prosecution and prize the music scene, he says, and coax the city officials to drop lawsuits when the city is wrong.

“Basically,” said Peter Holmes  “…this is Carr’s worst nightmare. The poor guy…”

The link to the article is : http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/election-2009-winners-and-losers/Content?oid=2708202

Mr. Jay Kimura is the chief Prosecutor for the County of Hawaii as part of the division of "Public Safety." Mr. Kimura's department has a budget of approximately 9 million dollars per year. He has been in office since 1992 and was elected unopposed last year.

The Lowest Law Enforcement Priority of Cannabis Ordinance is a document of nearly 2,000 words that sets new priorities for policy concerning Cannabis in the County of Hawaii. The ordinance prescribes for all County officials and personnel a new direction for Hawai’i County and a new set of priorities that do not involve search, seizure, arrests, prosecution, harassment or intimidation of individuals for ‘adult personal use’ of Cannabis as defined by the ordinance.

Last month the Peaceful Sky Alliance submitted a 60 page document to Hawaii County Council citing numerous departments and naming numerous County Officials who have obstructed the Ordinance or failed to make the necessary changes in policy and practice in order that the County of Hawaii is in compliance with the Lowest Law Enforcement Priority of Cannabis Ordinance.

One of the officials named in the document is Mr. Jay Kimura who heads the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. His department continues to prosecute cases of ‘adult personal use’ as defined by the ordinance (Cultivation or possession of 24 plants or 24 ounces of dried material on private property by adults over the age of 21 years).We have posted the details of one such case and we plan to post the details of others in the future.

Far from being confusing or unclear, Hawai’i County’s own ‘Lowest Priority’ ordinance was modeled after similar ordinances successfully implemented in other counties and municipalities around the country. There is a special section of the ordinance that addresses the fact that the Prosecuting Attorney for the County of Hawaii is not permitted to spend county funds to prosecute cases which fall under the definition of ‘adult personal use’.

Since our council was served with this summary document, Mr. Kimura has appeared before Council during a special hearing and expressed open defiance and opposition to the law passed by 35,000 voters. Below is the section of the summary document that addresses the failings of Mr. Kimura and his office:

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Office of Prosecuting Attorney not yet in Compliance:

Mr. Jay Kimura of the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney has several times made negative comments concerning the validity of the ordinance as it is written into law. He was heard to make negative remarks about this ordinance when sworn into office for his current term at the Inauguration Ceremony at Afook Chinin Auditorium on December 1, 2008.

In stating a conflict of the “Separation of Powers” doctrine, Mr. Jay Kimura has ignored the fact that as the constitution is written, Federal law, while the “highest law of the land,” does not overrule laws passed by states or local ordinances such as the Lowest Law Enforcement Priority of Cannabis Ordinance.

Mr. Jay Kimura has received a letter from Peaceful Sky Alliance regarding statements he made to the effect that he was waiting for an opinion from the Office of Hawai’i State Attorney General to determine the legality of the ordinance. The chain of correspondence between Mr. Kimura and Mr. Mark Bennett has been requested by the Board of Peaceful Sky Alliance and to date, none has been provided.

Chapter 14, Article 16 of the County Code requires a bi-annual report submitted as follows:

…These reports shall include but not be limited to: the number of all arrests, citations, property seizures, and prosecutions for all Cannabis offenses in the county of Hawai’i, the number of complaints regarding marijuana eradication over-flights; the breakdown of all Cannabis arrests and citations by race, age, specific charge, and classification as infraction, misdemeanor, or felony, the estimated time and money spent by the County on law enforcement and punishment for adult Cannabis offenses, and any instances of officers or deputies assisting in state or federal enforcement of adult Cannabis offenses. These reports shall be published with the cooperation of the County of Hawai’i’s Prosecuting Attorney, the Chief of Police, and all associated law enforcement staff in providing needed data.

While a summary of the “arrests that were the result of those investigations initiated prior to November 4, 2008” was provided, this does not meet the requirement of the ordinance that the report include estimated time and money spent by the County on law enforcement and punishment for adult Cannabis offenses. This information has not been provided by the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. An audit of the time and money spent by Mr. Kimura’s Office for the prosecution of adult Cannabis offenses has been requested of the Legislative Auditor.

Mr. Jay Kimura received a letter from Peaceful Sky Alliance dated September 9, 2009 notifying him of at least one case that concerns prosecution for an offense that would now be classified as ‘adult personal use’ and would not be subject to arrest or prosecution by our County’s police and prosecution. We have asked Mr. Kimura to review any such cases on the basis that the ordinance states the following request of his department:

…Neither the County Prosecuting Attorney nor any attorney prosecuting on behalf of the County of Hawai’i shall prosecute any violations of the sections of Chapter 712-1240 of the Hawai’i Revised Statutes regarding possession or cultivation of Cannabis in a manner inconsistent with the Lowest Law Enforcement Priority §14-100 COUNTY PROSECUTING  ATTORNEYS

To date, we have not received a reply from Mr. Kimura concerning this matter.

Mr. Kimura should be required to issue a public statement of his full support for the implementation of the ordinance. His full cooperation is required so that appropriate accounting procedures are put in place in order to meet requirements of the County Code. Further, Mr. Kimura should provide public assurance that his department is currently prosecuting no cases of ‘adult personal use’ where this would contravene the Lowest Law Enforcement Priority of Cannabis Ordinance.

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Image by James Moore

“The November 9 Supreme Court arguments on whether it is cruel and unusual to impose life in prison without parole on violent juveniles who have not killed anybody understandably got prominent media coverage,” a National Journal column reports.“But a far more important imprisonment story gets less attention because it’s a running sore that rarely generates dramatic “news.” That is our criminal-justice system’s incarceration of a staggering 2.3 million people, about half of them for nonviolent crimes, including most of the 500,000 locked up for drug offenses.” (From -November 13, 2009 National Journal read about it here: America’s Prison Spree Has Brutal Impact)

and just in .. news from Wall Street Journal  that U.S. Commission is  to Assess Mandatory Sentences

People who drank alchohol used to be the 'bad guys.'

“Congress has ordered the panel that advises judges on prison terms to conduct a review of mandatory-minimum sentences, a move that could lead to a dramatic rethinking of how the U.S. incarcerates its criminals,” the Wall Street Journal reported. “The review is a little-noticed element of the National Defense Authorization Act signed into law last month by President Barack Obama. The defense-spending bill calls on the commission to perform several tasks, including an examination of the impact of mandatory-minimum sentencing laws and alternatives to the practice.”  November 12, 2009 (Wall Street Journal)

It looks like this has been a big week for the Drug War. Take heed County of Hawaii. The American Medical Association has announced it will review the scheduling of Cannabis as a ‘dangerous drug’ (which it isn’t)  and a Commission of Judges is asked to review the practice of handing out harsh sentences for absurd ‘crimes’. 20 million prisoners later.. The Drug War is costing us way too much. The budget for Prosecutions in Hawaii County is 11 million dollars. That is a lot for an island with a population of 177,000 men women and children don’t you think?

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Tyrone Brown received a last minute reprieve from death row for smoking pot while on probation

Tyrone Brown served 16 years of a Life Sentence for smoking Cannabis while on probation:

As an example of how much of a joke the Drug War can get to be.. listen to this case; In 1990, Tyrone Brown, then 17 years old, took part in a $2 Dallas stickup in which no one was hurt. He got caught, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery, and received a sentence of 10 years probation. A few weeks later, he was in court again — because a drug test detected the presence of marijuana in his urine. For still unexplained reasons, his sentencing judge, Keith Dean, threw the book at him. The 17-year-old was resentenced to life in prison, where he remained up until 2007. We can be thankful that eventually the Governor of Texas, Rick Perry saw the wisdom of pardoning Tyrone but long after it was somewhat of a joke. If you google Tyrone Brown, you will see yet another comparison between the kind of harsh sentence you can get for using Cannabis but you don’t see if you are a convicted killer.  But now, thanks to drug reform activists, a Dallas newspaper, a nationally televised investigative journalism program, and outraged citizens across the land, Brown was freed from his life sentence.

We all know that each prisoner in the United States costs taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars each year that they are incarcerated let alone the money it costs and lengthy court procedures that it takes to put each one of them there. Do you really like to think that your tax dollars are being spent to lock up adults who enjoy Cannabis for their own personal use? You might be shocked to know the cost of the Drug War but chances are by now, you might be well familiar of how this outright war on a plant, has usurped our Nations resources and the treasuries of; the Federal Government, the States and Counties all around the country. That’s the reason for ordinances and new legislation that is determining that adult personal use of Cannabis should go from the highest priority of Law Enforcement to the lowest. Enough already!

Is Justice "Blind"? This is our question for the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney

Puna Man sentenced to 18 months jail for selling 2 ounces of Cannabis to a registered medical marijuana user:

A case closer to home received a hearing in the Hilo 3rd circuit court today (Friday November 13). Just to give you an idea of how the Office of The Prosecuting Attorney is spending our County money, take a look at this case. A man 50 years old with debilitating spinal injuries, himself a medical marijuana patient, was caught in 2007 selling marijuana to another medical marijuana patient. He was arrested along with his wife who was 7 months pregnant with their first child. He now has two children since his arrest. This man was not in fact indicted until 18 months later. The Grand Jury indicted him after the passage of the voter ordinance Lowest Law Enforcement Priority of Cannabis Ordinance

This man pleaded guilty to the charges and his lawyer is now negotiating the terms of probation for him. In many cases now, the judges rule against medical marijuana patients being permitted to use Cananbis on probation. This is the same man who has more than one debilitating condition and was actually granted permission by the courts recently to leave the island for hip replacement surgery and time needed for his recovery before resuming his court appearances. His surgeon has determined that there are benefits for him to use Cannabis. His doctor here in Hilo attended court today to testify to the fact that while using Cannabis, this man has been able to reduce the doses of morphine he had become dependent on to manage his pain. In spite of two medical opinions, Judge Greg Nakamura would only say that he would take this testimony ‘under advisement’ which for those of us who don’t know, means he doesn’t have to abide by these doctor’s medical opinion. The question we then ask ourselves, is this: Has this judge taken upon himself the responsibility for managing critical health conditions? This is an affront to the profession of medicine by the profession of justice.

This is yet another case of someone who should have seen all charges against him dropped to say nothing of the fact that it shouldn’t be a crime to supply a medical marijuana user who has been licensed by the State of Hawaii to possess and use Cannabis.  The Lowest Law Enforcement Priority of Cannabis Ordinance specifically MANDATES the prosecutor NOT to prosecute ANY cases that now fall under the description of ‘adult personal use’ as defined by the ordinance so why are they still prosecuting these cases and wasting County funds?

Countless hours of time of the judges and the prosecution have already been wasted in pursuit of this case and it does not appear to be close to ending. This is yet another example of wasted County Funds that is occurring. It’s also a genuine miscarriage of justice as the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, headed by Mr. Jay Kimura, openly violates our Lowest Law Enforcement Priority of Cannabis Ordinance.

Finding this absurd ? Finding this a waste of County funds? Stay tuned because this is a bad habit the County of Hawaii has and the Prosecutor can’t seem to kick. If you have ‘horror’ stories of your own to share, please feel free to post them below or send them to us at peacefulskyhawaii@gmail.com and we can feature them here on this site.

The American Medical Association has finally ruled that Cannabis shouldn't be Schedule 1!

Yesterday, NORML published this news.. the AMA has called for Cannabis (marijuana) to be rescheduled.
Now that’s a headline! The very basis for the drug war was the classification of Cannabis as a ‘schedule 1′ drug. For the last 30 years Cannabis has been vilified and classified as a drug more potent and dangerous than crack or cocaine. Here’s to some profound policy changes all across the land. Here’s to some profound policy changes right here at home, in Hawai’i County.

Yesterday it was announced that the AMA has voted to reverse its longstanding endorsement of cannabis’ Schedule I prohibitive status.
According to a posting on NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws): “The vote took place during the organization’s annual Interim Meeting of the House of Delegates in Houston, Texas, and marks the first time that the AMA has revisited its position on cannabis in eight years.

Take note everybody. A ‘house of cards’ that has teetered and swayed over us for 30 years is now coming down.

This is huge news! The War on Drugs has been built on a lie and it looks like the lie just doesn’t have anymore hold on us. It’s curtains for the Drug War. May the “Wicked Witch” (as pictured above) finally take a bow and leave the rest of us in peace.

Hawai’i County Officials.. are you listening? This is especially important news to those of you who are still making public statements that our Lowest Law Enforcement Priority of Cannabis Ordianance doesn’t mean anything to you because according to State and Federal law, Cannabis is still a ‘dangerous & illegal drug’. Please take note that the ground beneath you is shifting. The voters in this County have spoken and now, while you are still dragging your feet, you’re seeing changes on the National level.

Spread the word! and for more information.. check out the story as it was posted on the NORML website:

http://blog.norml.org/2009/11/10/ama-calls-for-ending-the-schedule-i-lie/

Woo-hoo! Friday night was a great night.. the weather held and the people of East Hawaii sure looked fine all dressed up and on the town. At 100 Kamehameha Avenue, (next door to Cronies Bar and Grill and just down from the Kava Bar)Peaceful Sky Alliance launched the website you are now visiting.

Great music, some divine Hemp Treats and plenty of information giveaways helped to make the night a success.

We celebrated a birthday evening for the Lowest Law Enforcement Priority of Cannabis Ordinance which just turned one on Thursday November 5th!

Thank you to all who came and shared a little joy with us. We are now launched! (and there will be some great photos to follow but we are still rounding them up)