cannabisnews.com: Pot Eradication Methods Draw Protest





Pot Eradication Methods Draw Protest
Posted by FoM on December 16, 2000 at 08:32:25 PT
By Dave Smith - Tribune-Herald
Source: Hawaii Tribune-Herald
The members of the Board of Land and Natural Resources got an earful Thursday during a public hearing on the state's aerial marijuana eradication program. The hearing was being held under conditions of a $300,000 appropriation for eradication efforts from the state Legislature.Tim Johns, director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, told the roughly 40 persons at the County Building that no action would be taken on the program until a later date. 
He said the meeting was being held to obtain public input on the program in which marijuana is sprayed with herbicide from hovering helicopters or plucked from the ground by law enforcement personnel rappelling from the aircraft."This meeting is to hear from you folks," Johns said.And hear he did. About three-quarters of the roughly 40 people in attendance testified on the matter with none expressing unconditional support of the aerial eradication program.Many, including County Councilwoman Julie Jacobson, called for an end to the program in its current form.Advocates of the use of marijuana took advantage of the opportunity to blast all law enforcement efforts against the illicit plant and to lobby on behalf of its legalization.Some of those speaking during the three hours of testimony disputed claims by the state that DLNR eradication efforts are aimed solely at public lands, saying their homes had been targeted by low overflights and sometimes by the spray itself.But it was not clear whether the flights being referred to were the state's or part of the Police Department's efforts. Those efforts can include personnel and equipment from the Hawaii National Guard and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, which has two helicopters stationed at the Hilo International Airport.A number of those testifying condemned the methods of the eradication missions."You are defiling American citizens with your military-style tactics," Aaron Anderson said.A contingent of residents from Hawaiian Ocean View Estates in Ka`u pleaded with land board members to restrict the spraying operations, which they said can result in herbicides drifting into residential areas and their gardens and into water catchment systems.Pattie Barry of HOVE said she has collected a variety of evidence that shows that the eradication efforts had gone too far.During the meeting land board members collected photos and videotapes from people who claimed they proved that helicopters on eradication missions were flying at low elevations and over homes, spraying herbicide in populated areas."Do not spray near our homes," Barry pleaded.Another HOVE resident, Martie Nitsche, said she feared for the health of her family from the spraying. Nitsche said she is 67 years old, and plans to keep on working 14-hour days for another 20 years."I don't want to be killed by my government," she said. "Please be sensitive to our health, to our children and to our animals."The meeting began on a contentious note, with Puna resident Del Pranke arguing with Johns over procedures for testimony.Immediately following that came comments from Mayor Harry Kim, who, after noting wryly that he "could have been retired" rather than jump into such frays, told the state officials that he was in favor of eradication of marijuana plants.Kim then raised three issues he said needed to be addressed, including the threat posed by herbicide sprays drifting onto some of the roofs of the more than 7,000 Big Island homes with catchment systems that rely on rainwater for household needs. He also said there are concerns about the spray landing on people's yards, including vegetable gardens.Kim said the noise from helicopter operations also should be considered because of its major impact on rural lifestyles."I ask for your sensitivity on these three areas," he said, adding that the program has an effect on everyone in the areas involved, including "law-abiding people who are truly disturbed by the noise of the chopper."Kim reiterated that none of his testimony should be taken as being against the eradication of marijuana.The next speaker was Jacobson, who said she was "compelled to voice the concerns and sentiments of an overwhelming majority" of her constituents in Puna and Ka`u who have "serious concerns" about the marijuana eradication program.She said most of the complaints are not about marijuana itself but about the use of helicopters and herbicide spray."Residents feel that these two activities are an invasion of their private homes and a potential health risk," she said."Therefore, I call for an end to the aerial spraying and use of helicopters in rural residential areas on this island," Jacobson told the land board members. She said an "objective statewide program review" should be conducted to determine the program's impacts.Some of those testifying blamed land board members personally for the eradication program.Well-known marijuana advocate Roger Christie said when the "drug war is over" they would be "held accountable.""Some of you people's faces will be on the wall of shame," he said.Dennis Shields, a minister in the Religion of Jesus Church, which claims the use of marijuana in its sacraments, took a more accusatory tone."With all due respect, you're a bunch of losers," he said. "You've lost the drug war. You're like Hitler in his last days."Land board members questioned several persons, including hemp proponent Dwight Kondo, who claimed that law enforcement agents, including DLNR enforcement personnel, routinely pocket some of the marijuana -- which goes for up to $500 an ounce -- during eradication campaigns.Board member Colbert Matsumoto asked Kondo if he could identify particular officers involved."You suggest this is something pervasive with all law enforcement agencies on this island," Matsumoto said.Kondo declined to name names because he feared retribution. "If we make a case of it ... our lives would be in jeopardy," he said.Kondo added that it was the citizens' role only to bring the matter to the state's attention. "It's your responsibility to flush this out," he said.Don McDaniels said state officials who say they have yet to see evidence of wrong-doing in the program are ignoring the obvious."They deny that citizen complaints are evidence," he said. "That shows on its face that they are insensitive to citizen concerns."He and others said a lack of recognizable markings on the helicopters makes it hard to identify which ones are causing problems.The land board members collected several videotapes from people who claimed they proved that helicopters on eradication missions were flying at low elevations and over homes, spraying herbicide in populated areas.Several persons told board members the hearing should have been held in the rural areas most affected by the program."If this had been held in our community we would have filled this room five times," said Don Nitsche, a 71-year-old HOVE resident.Source: Hawaii Tribune-Herald (HI)Published: December 16, 2000Author: Dave Smith - Tribune-HeraldCopyright: 2000 Hawaii Tribune HeraldAddress: 355 Kinoole St., Hilo, Hawaii 96720Contact: dave hilohawaiitribune.comWebsite: http://www.hilohawaiitribune.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Dennis Shield's Home Pagehttp://www.hialoha.com/konagold/church/index.htmlChasing Smoke - Hawaii's 24 Year War on Pothttp://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/specials/pot/index.html Kim Cites Concerns Over Marijuana Eradicationhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8020.shtmlFighting Drugs with Choppers and Poisonhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/6/thread6298.shtmlColombian Police Spray Herbicide on Wellstonehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/7/thread7837.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by Rev. Jonathan Adler on December 17, 2000 at 22:50:40 PT:
DLNR Rippers hold hearing.
How can Land and Natural Resource agents spray chemical agents on the same areas and animals and plants and HUMANS they are sworn to protect? I was there... I showed up at the hearings dressed as a copter cowboy... in full air-combat gear with rappeling rope on my hip. I wore a DLNR RIP-MISSION hat too! With a paint ball mask to disguise my identity , I was an intimidating sight. I testified about the un -monitored activities we were getting away with and smurked at the public's ignorance of the crimes being committed by our DLNR agents in the fields. Our fields.They looked and felt silly as I tore of the costume revealing a huge Medijuana.com Shirt and revealed myself as a legal medijuana cultivator with rights they had to recognize now! It was powerful and unreported. Our Public access TV aired it so some folks will see. Aloha, We fight on .... Keep planting the truth... Rev. Jonathan Adler /Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute
Hawaii Medical Marijuana
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Comment #3 posted by freedom fighter on December 16, 2000 at 13:49:28 PT
A nail in the head
Dave in Flordia, you are absoutely correct. It is US and THEM!Since they want the names, let start with Barry McCaffery. This man is responisble for all the pot/drugs trafficking in Hawaii. I should know becuz he sold me 200 pounds of that hawaii weed. Barry told me he got the weed from these cops who were flying in helicopters raiding the land.We will never be truly free when we say it is US and THEM!
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Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on December 16, 2000 at 11:45:58 PT:
Why organophosphates are something to be avoided
Years ago, I was a troop in a Chemical Corps unit. I am only too familiar with the history of the development of organophosphates, which is the stuff that these goons are spraying. They are but watered down - but no less dangerous - precursors of nerve gasses. Never mind how supposedly 'harmless' this stuff is touted as being; witness how seriously certain governmental 'health and welfare' organizations view how exposure to this stuff should be handled:http://hsis.fedworld.gov/PPH/15348.htmAnd this is what can happen when you eat food contaminated with organophosphates:http://www.hedleytech.com/980725_britishmedicaljournal.htmor be exposed to fumes:http://www.getipm.com/articles/letters/diazinon-campbell.htmMore on why *rapid* treatment is so essential: http://www.serb-labo.com/c3_organoph.htmlMake no mistake: organosphosphates have increasingly life-threatening, cummulative effects. To use them in the presence of people and animals is downright criminal. But then, what what you expect from the DrugWarriors? Queensbury Rules? 
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Comment #1 posted by Dave in Florida on December 16, 2000 at 09:53:19 PT
Hmmm...
>Land board members questioned several persons, including hemp proponent Dwight Kondo, who claimed that law enforcement agents, including DLNR enforcement personnel, routinely pocket some of the marijuana -- which goes for up to $500 an ounce -- during eradication campaigns.Board member Colbert Matsumoto asked Kondo if he could identify particular officers involved. "You suggest this is something pervasive with all law enforcement agencies on this island," Matsumoto said.Kondo declined to name names because he feared retribution. "If we make a case of it ... our lives would be in jeopardy," he said. Kondo added that it was the citizens' role only to bring the matter to the state's attention. "It's yourresponsibility to flush this out," he said. Don McDaniels said state officials who say they have yet to see evidence of wrong-doing in the program are ignoring the obvious."They deny that citizen complaints are evidence," he said. "That shows on its face that they are insensitive to citizen concerns."In other words, it is ok for LEO's to operate on a anonyoums tip, to go after pot smokers (or cocaine snorters in motel rooms in Palm Springs) but not for investigation of their own.. Hmmm, why is that not surprising?
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