Good letters
I would like to thank your recent contributors to “Your Views” for expressing their opinions of the silent majority.
Lloyd Fukui (Tribune Herald, Oct. 20), “Caving in to protesters”:
“There’s a reason we have laws. It enables us to move forward with a decision that has been determined after much debate, with many voices heard. It is a judicial process that governs our democracy. It’s disappointing that our legitimate government authorities cave in to these lawbreakers.”
Fred Fogel (Tribune Herald, Oct. 22), “Lawlessness”:
“Having laws that aren’t enforced is the first step towards a lawless community.”
Mahalo, again, for your time.
William Barnes III
Papaikou
Pot prosecutions
Did you know that even if all the legislators in this state were to agree to create a law that proclaimed pink flowers illegal because they cause cancer that they could not do it?
Why?
Because there is not a shred of evidence to demonstrate such a conclusion — that it simply is not true.
Likewise, there is no scientifically demonstrated evidence that marijuana is any more harmful than salt or, for that matter, pink flowers.
A decade or so ago, as a member of the County Council, I tried to pass a resolution to decriminalize marijuana, and while 63% of the voters supported the idea, my fellow lawmakers rejected my bill, though eventually it morphed into controlled-use legalization and passed several years later.
The rationale at that point had nothing to do with any concerns associated with the use of marijuana, but instead that the state/county could receive substantial revenue if they were to create a controlled substance status. That is contrary to decriminalization, whereby marijuana would be considered no different than pink flowers.
Any law proclaiming a lie is by definition void, and any worthy student of the law knows that. So why are the so-called marijuana law offenders being prosecuted in our state courts (Hilo)? You know why, and it’s time to do something about it.
There are other ways to acquire revenue that are not punitive, do not threaten us or our health and do not infringe upon our freedom to choose.
Kelly Greenwell
Kailua-Kona