Best option for pot is to just legalize it

Regarding medical marijuana distribution, I think all parties have it wrong.

Hawaii County Councilwoman Margaret Wille is opposed to Oahu-based rules, rightly so, calling for county control and addressing certain areas where a “drug problem exists.”

She’s right. A drug problem exists, due to the illegality of marijuana itself, creating black markets and so-called “crimes.”

My solution is simple: no regulation at all. Legalization of medical marijuana was enacted to help the needy, not to line the pockets of the greedy.

Politicians once opposed to marijuana now are embracing it. Why? Money. They rationalize theft from their own constituents by fabricating stories about governments’ burdens by legalization.

Aren’t we presently wasting government resources with our current enforcement farce?

We need another Johnny Appleseed to scatter marijuana seeds around Hawaii. Then, maybe all marijuana-related problems will simply disappear.

James Donovan

Waikoloa, Hawaii island

Nobody enforcing beach smoking ban

The smoking ban at beaches is not being enforced.

Almost every time I go to any beach with my family, there is someone smoking openly, and it is affecting others. Whenever I mention that they shouldn’t be smoking there, people look at me like they have no clue that smoking is not permitted on the beach (locals and tourists alike).

Ala Moana is the worst, since there is the white wall along the promenade where people sit and smoke almost constantly. Where is the enforcement of the law? Who is responsible for enforcing the ban?

If we call the police, the people are usually done smoking and long gone before the police show up.

And where are the no-smoking signs? I have not seen one at a single beach on the island.

I take my family to the beach for fresh air. All children should have fresh air free of second-hand smoke at the beach.

Antonia Papica

Makiki

Solar leasing firms oppose Nevada idea

The Nevada Public Utilities Commission has developed the template for the future regarding the sustainability of solar lease contracts.

In its recent decision, the commission noted that as the use of solar energy increases, it will siphon off the more wealthy customers able to purchase or lease solar panels. In order to sustain the basic infrastructure of the utility, an increased burden will be placed on those without solar panels.

Because of this, the owners of solar panels in Nevada will be paid a markedly decreased wholesale rate for the electricity they generate. With this lower payment, solar lease contracts will be not only unsustainable, but a thing of the past. California is considering the same approach.

This decision was vigorously fought by the solar leasing companies, but this change in reinbursement is inevitable.

Gary R. Johnson

Kaneohe

U.S. military meddling plays into ISIS’s hands

“Bomb them to smithereens” is absolutely the wrong thing to do.

Our military interventions during the last half-century have been counterproductive, exacerbated unrest in the Middle East and diminished our international reputation.

Bombing and war always result in death, injury and dislocation to innocent non-combatants. Refugees proliferate, diverting government priorities and encouraging xenophobia.

War increases the influence of the military and diverts our attention and resources from dealing with domestic issues.

We become accustomed to problems such as homeless veterans and PTSD. By attacking ISIS we are doing exactly what it wants us to do. It televises beheadings and other atrocities to lure us in and provide it a rationale to recruit supporters.

ISIS and Syrian President Bashar Assad, Saudi Arabia, Sunni jihadis and the Revolutionary Guard have enough energy and hate to fight it out themselves, without adding the fuel of American military hardware and personnel to the conflagration.

David N. Strand

Aiea

Sweeps of homeless need to be constant

I have been pleased with the “compassionate disruption” that resulted in the cleanup of Kakaako Waterfront Park. However, tents are again blanketing the park.

The cleanup does no good if there aren’t regular sweeps and follow-up to ensure that the park doesn’t again become a magnet for the homeless.

Kimball Shelley

Waikiki

FROM THE FORUM

Readers of the Star-Advertiser’s online edition can respond to stories posted there. The following are some of those. Instead of names, pseudonyms are generally used online. They have been removed.

“Legal smoking age rises to 21 Friday” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 28:

>> They can raise the smoking age to 100 but that won’t solve the problem. Until they crack down on the merchants selling these products to the underaged, you’re never going to stop it.

>> No enforcement is evident for the under-18 law, so how will raising the age limit to 21 help?

———

“Homeless leader of almost 260 people wants to lease Waianae site” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 28:

>> The lease will be paid by money from? The buildings and facilities will be brought up to code using money from? Utilities, sanitation, police and fire services will be provided by … taxpayers.

>> If they’re good stewards of the aina and respect their surroundings and are not an eyesore to the community, it’s a good temporary transition for the homeless.

>> Ten years is temporary?

>> Compared to most other alternatives, this camp seems like a good idea. I like the fact that they police themselves, so this is not a lawless ghetto. The one issue that I have is, I don’t see this as a long-term solution. Allowing this to continue indefinitely will eventually create a shantytown much like we see in Third World countries.

>> Beware of a lease that will eventually be interpreted as permanent. Does anyone think that after a lease period of five or 10 years the people living there will peacefully move off the land?

>> It seems like the leader of this homeless pack is much more effective than our elected leaders in Hawaii.

>> I give her credit for bringing up a possible solution.

———

“Legislators tell officials to kill rules on pakalolo not in law” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 29:

>> I haven’t read the law, but if it actually states that marijuana production must take place in “enclosed, indoor facilities,” it is ridiculous. Obviously, another provision added by those opposing medical marijuana to obstruct the intent of the law.

>> And I’m sure that the medical pakalolo is only going to be in the hands of those in medical need and none for recreation.

>> Would you deny patients the benefits of Percocet and OxyContin because some of it finds its way into the hands of recreational users?

———

“DNA tests urged for homestead applicants” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 29:

>> It’s time to end all these racist programs, not enlarge them into a “one drop nation.”

>> How about the quote from Patrick Kahawaiolaa that, “Hawaiian children will never be able to buy a piece of property.” My goodness. I hope he hasn’t victimized the children around him with that statement. There are many successful Polynesian-Hawaiians who are doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc. Where do these degrading thoughts come from? From getting free stuff because of your race.

———

“1,500 fireworks calls spur HPD to arrest 3” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 30:

>> Three arrests out of 1,500 calls is a horrible arrest rate, but it’s enough to scare the violators who’ve been terrorizing their own neighborhoods for weeks. There have been very few illegal aerial fireworks going off lately. That’s a good thing. If those bums were my neighbors, I’d record them and email the pictures to police with their names and addresses.

>> I would never snitch on my neighbors for fireworks. This is a long-time tradition that is dying, so what is the problem?

>> I have no problem with the “usual fireworks.” I used to enjoy setting them off myself. I do have a huge problem with commercial-type fireworks usually seen and heard at professionally demonstrated displays. They sound like cannons going off right next to the house.

———

“City has resurfaced 256 lane miles in ’15” Star-Advertiser, Dec 30:

>> The article makes it sound like some great achievement, but the city collects millions of dollars a year in vehicle registration fees. Shouldn’t this be the norm?

>> The city also collects a portion of the tax on every gallon of gasoline and diesel we buy, which was supposedly earmarked for highway improvement.

>> Don’t believe the hype. Believe what you see. We are sinking in potholes everywhere. I don’t care what the city is selling.