Time for legalization
Reducing the penalties for cannabis possession, while maintaining its illegality, fails to resolve the underlying problem.
Hawaii was a pioneer in permitting “medical marijuana,” but legislation to create a legal marketplace for it took more than 10 years, creating and perpetuating two unequal classes of people: one permitted to break the possession laws, and the other not. This is grossly unfair. (Would anyone permit some drivers, but not others, to break the speed limits?)
Using “medical marijuana” has apparently helped alleviate symptoms. But ostensibly sick people who can get doctors’ certificates for their afflictions are really no different from ostensibly healthy people, since — barring accidents — we will all die from some fatal medical condition.
Either the law must apply to everyone or it must be changed. Ten states established legal retail marketplaces, open to all adults, and the governor of Illinois just announced he wants it for his state.
Clearly, legal markets are the way of the future, and states now have a variety of approaches to consider, to adopt, to modify or even to innovate.
Hawaii has a “decriminalization” bill on Gov. Ige’s desk. Signing it might seem like a good idea, but it is only postponing the inevitable. Kicking the can down the road perpetuates an irresponsible status quo. People in possession would still risk a penalty, but collecting a few $130 fines will not generate much revenue, and police resources will still be diverted from pursuing serious crimes.
Decriminalization is simply not a viable alternative to legalization.
Hal Glatzer
Hilo
Not fond of Hirono
Mazie Hirono, our U.S. senator who represents Hawaii, again is an embarrassment to the state.
In the past, she has disrespected our veterans, and recently she disrespected U.S. Attorney General William Barr by using her time to insult and berate him, and then finally calling him a lair. Thus leaving him no time to respond to her comments, and finally asking for his resignation.
Mazie Hirono is again an embarrassment to all of us in Hawaii. Mazie Hirono’s bad behavior reminds me of a quote by Benjamin Franklin: “We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.”
I hope the Tribune-Herald prints this.
Laverne Paulos
Honokaa