Rep Bertram (D-Kihei) backs drug dealer: Police Chief warns

Bertram said problems with the law were illustrated in November with the arrests on Maui of seven people, including Brian Murphy, founder and director of Patients Without Time.

Before being shut down by the police raid that followed a two-year investigation, the Paia-based organization billed itself as a medical marijuana advocacy group and cooperative involving more than 300 medical marijuana patients on Maui.

In announcing the arrests as part of "Operation Weedkiller," police said Patients Without Time and state medical marijuana laws were used to disguise a drug-trafficking operation headed by the 53-year-old Murphy. Police reported seizing contraband, including 335 marijuana plants and clones, 2,300 grams of processed marijuana, 4,830 grams of unprocessed marijuana, $14,085 cash and a vehicle.

"They were not following the medical marijuana law," Phillips said. "It doesn't allow you to grow and sell marijuana for profit.

"We have never arrested anyone that has a medical marijuana permit and has followed the law."..."We're going after people who grow marijuana and bring other problems and crime to Hawaii.  We have had murders, assaults, every other crime that goes along with marijuana."

Of the 4,560 patients registered for medical marijuana use in the state in December, 68 percent, or 3,102, received physicians' certifications to use marijuana for the (unverifiable) "debilitating medical condition" of severe pain. That was followed by 1,167 certifications for (possibly unverifiable) multiple conditions, and (the rest of conditions that can be diagnosed) 70 for persistent muscle spasms, 61 for HIV or AIDS, 55 for cancer, 48 for severe nausea, 25 for seizures and 14 for wasting syndrome.  (93% unverifiable or possibly unverifiable diagnoses)

But they do feel medicated after the treatment....

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State, City to reach further into residents' wallets

Honolulu taxpayers can expect to shell out hundreds of dollars more each year in taxes and government fees as the state and city scramble to maintain revenues (and save HGEA jobs) during the deepening economic recession.

"You're tapping into a source that is already strung out and that's the problem. ... It's hitting people when they are down," said Leroy Laney, professor of finance and economics at Hawai'i Pacific University and economic adviser to First Hawaiian Bank. "I don't know what else can be done about it. You've got to get the funds somehow."

Becuase nobody will even SAY the word 'layoffs'....

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Maui Panel to review housing ordinance

The main concerns expressed by critics are that the permitting process takes too long, and the percentage of affordable homes required is too high. The combination has led to a stagnation in the local housing construction market, they say....Charlie Jencks, owner's representative for Honua'ula, said the ordinance is laudable, but the time it takes to get the necessary building, design and other permits from the county is laughable. He said he knows of projects that have been on the shelf awaiting administrative approvals for 2 years.

InverseCondemnation has complete analysis

RELATED: OHA is soon to appear before the US Supreme Court to block affordable housing on 'ceded' lands at Lahaina

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Hanabusa: Ban Pit Bulls

Protester: "Don't kill my dog"

In the first of several protests planned on Oahu, dozens of dog owners called yesterday for state lawmakers to dismiss a bill that would ban pit bulls. The bill would make it a misdemeanor to sell or own an American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier or Staffordshire bull terrier.

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