Friday, June 29, 2012

Musings: Madness, Reefer and Otherwise


Shapes and faces in shades of rose and orange were drifting across the sky, doing a Venus fly-by, when the dogs and I went out walking in the pre-dawn chill. But it wasn't long before the clouds consolidated, turned gray and began delivering a much-welcomed downpour.

Email, meanwhile, delivered a much-welcomed message from Michelle Swartman, the local rep for Ohana Hanalei LLC, the Pierre Omidyar-owned company that wants to develop the old Hanalei Plantation Resort site —Kauakahiunu— where I've reported some recent access and parking problems. She wrote:

I can assure you that this issue - ensuring safe, open public access to property - is extremely important to us. We have reminded our security and our maintenance staff of what has always been our parking and public access policy: Individuals and families who wish to access our property using the pedestrian easement are allowed to park their vehicles along the side of the road outside of the gate, as long as they're not obstructing access or posing a hazard.

We want to be a good neighbor and to provide open access to our property, while ensuring a safe environment for everyone.

Aurai! Let's just hope it lasts.....

While we're on the subject of billionaire property owners, journalist/blogger Ian Lind had a good post on how it appears Larry Ellis will skate on paying the real estate conveyance tax for his purchase of Lanai. That's because it's set up as the sale of corporate stock rather than land. As a result, the state will lose about $6 million — some of which would have gone to support the Legacy Land Conservation Fund, the state’s rental housing trust fund and the natural area reserve fund.

Yeah, that sucks. But not as much as the latest “Reefer Madness” campaign, which I totally saw coming. I'm talking about the so-called “face chewer” in Florida. It's now being widely reported that he had only marijuana in his system, though in fact they can't even test for all the current synthetic drugs. Anyway, that gave rise to the "super strain" hysteria, as promulgated by the Associated Press:

An addiction expert said she wouldn't rule out marijuana causing the agitation.

"It could have been the strain of marijuana that increases the dopamine in the brain, such as sativa," said Dr. Patricia Junquera, assistant professor at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

That total, absolute crock prompted at least one follow up story:

"Some people have said, 'Well, it must have been the marijuana that triggered [Rudy] Eugene's behavior.' That, in my opinion, is outrageous, and out of the question. Marijuana will not cause this type of behavior," said Dr. Bruce Goldberger, professor and director of toxicology at the University of Florida.

But the bottom line is, pot couldn't have triggered the attack. "Some media is reporting that pot isn't ruled out [as the cause of the attack]," Goldberger said. "I don't buy that. That's like talking about, 'If you take LSD, it stays in your body for a lifetime.' It's one of these misleading things you hear about drugs."

It's that ongoing demonization of marijuana that allows the government to turn Roger Christie, founder of the Big Island cannabis ministry, into a political prisoner. Deemed a "threat to the community," he's been held in a federal detention center without bail for nearly two years now as he awaits his endlessly delayed trial.

Coincidentally, I got a letter from Roger yesterday that coincidentally bore a cancelled stamp that depicted the American flag with the words, "Equality Forever." If that's true, and we all know it isn't, then why are marijuana smokers — even those who use it medicinally — discriminated against so blatantly?

Anyway, aside from noting he'd run into “Tex” Spears in the big house, Roger said the feds would not allow a British film crew from the National Geographic Channel to interview him for their documentary, “Drugs, Inc.” He also referenced a passage from the book, “Steve Jobs,” that stated, “his intellect flowered in high school after he started smoking marijuana and taking LSD.”

Despite the aggressive anti-cannabis campaign, we continue to we see these tiny steps toward liberation, such as Chicago decriminalizing possession of less than half an ounce of weed. As Reuters reports:

More than a dozen U.S. states and several large cities have already taken similar steps. Supporters said the Chicago measure, which takes effect on August 4, would help raise revenue for the city, save money and free up police to pursue more serious crimes.

Gee, what a concept. Instead of pissing people off and wasting time, money and fuel on Green Harvest, the Kauai cops could actually try to solve murders and stop ice. 

Finally, amidst the clamor about the Supreme Court upholding “Obama care,” I was interested in this piece on some of the lesser known effects of the massive law (emphasis added):

The health care legislation renews $50 million per year for five years for abstinence-only education. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, "programs that receive this funding must teach that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems." And they also have to teach that sex before marriage is "likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects."

OMG. Is it any wonder people don't trust the government?

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Agree 1000000% murders, murders made to look like suicides, and ICE should be KPD and the CHIEF of police top priority.

If the Chief gave as much time in effort in solving these murders and the ICE and the main distributors as well as meth labs as he does in getting a pay raise maybe just maybe we could solve some of these major problems.

Question to the Chief of police- why don't you utilize all of your assets as in OCDETF? Is there something to hide?

Stop all of this madness and political games and get to work. You guys and gals are paid good money to do your job. Failure is not an option, so far you have failed miserably

Anonymous said...

sad to see in our paper "Dangerous promotion" tied to simple possession in our paper labeling pot users as "dealers". Sadly Shaylene and Chief are major "reefer madness" devotees while oxy's and ice abound.

Anonymous said...

can't wait until the chief files his lawsuit against the county...so exciting.'

Anonymous said...

Freeloaders.
And theyʻve got the nerve to talk about welfare recipients trying to feed their families.

Anonymous said...

Ellison may be a fraud.
And, he owes Hawaii back taxes of $300,000.

As mentioned on Ianʻs site, since corporations are people, they should pay taxes too. But it is discrimination.

Abercrombieʻs got to do. Heʻs in the process of fleecing this so-called state for all the land and resources.

Anybody got any ideas or should we just wait for the next guy or the lawyers to do something...like we always do.
In the meantime, whine.

Anonymous said...

Cry me a river.

Call the Waaambulance.

Ellison doesn't owe any taxes personally. His corporation, Oracle, does. A completely different legal entity.

Corporations are, indeed, people as the SCOTUS tells us, but a "different kind" of people, exempt from other "people" obligations.

You just don't really know how the world works, do you?

It's not just; it's not fair; it's not equal. Learn the rules and profit from them.

Light a candle or rage against the darkness or, in this case, continue to uselessly whine.

Or, drink heavily. That's more fun.

Anonymous said...

Oxy's and other prescription drugs are out of control on Kauai! Stop the marijuana helicopters and the waste of tax payers monies and solve the real crimes on Kauai.

Anonymous said...

Don't forget about those unattended deaths also. Geez these people think everyones a fool on Kauai.

Anonymous said...

Yeah recently a guy has 70 charges and gets only 2 Years jail time. Who is connected to? 12k a month someone is above this peddler. TSA needs to be front and center at the harbor.

Anonymous said...

Yes. Ellison owes that back tax.
Really bothers you, huh.
I canʻt stand groupies standin in da shadows hopin to get recognized. Poor ting.

Anonymous said...

"HI: Billionaire’s company owes $333,824 in back taxes"

COMPANY OWES...not Billionaire owes.

Completely different.

Numbskull.

http://watchdog.org/22603/hi-billionaires-company-owes-333824-in-back-taxes/

Dawson said...

>"HI: Billionaire’s company owes $333,824 in back taxes"
COMPANY OWES...not Billionaire owes.
Completely different.<


Correct. The billionaire has no connection whatsoever with his company, and no responsibility in any way, shape or form for what it does.

Pretty cool, huh?

Anonymous said...

Personal tax debt vs corporate tax debt. Two very different matters.

The use of corporations for various reasons is pretty cool, actually.

They shield liability, provide many and varied tax advantages, etc.

"Citizens United"?

irk said...

WHAT THE FUCK???!!!
Aurai?
there are still two gates/fences hindering public access on a PUBLIC ACCESS RIGHT OF WAY!
many people harassed, false statements to police by security guards without crimination, and Michelle Swarthog thinks this is over??
must be koolaid in your bong.

Anonymous said...

You can Sue these people for blocking public access

Anonymous said...

That guy had more drugs, guns, and money than anyone on Kauai recent arrest history. Feds/DEA/FBI needs to find out who he is selling for and who else he is connected to. Looks like Hilario will walk for sure, I'm totally disgusted with Kauai's judicial criminals

Anonymous said...

OCDETF-Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force

I think a few thousand people on Kauai would be arrested. This includes judges, attorneys, cops, stores that are fronts, shippping companies, and so on.

Joan Conrow said...

Well, Irk, you can pick up the torch at any time! It takes a village, as they say!

Anonymous said...

June 30, 2012 5:17 PM

We'll send Sue right over there to sort it out!

Anonymous said...

Take these nazis to court and file a civil lawsuit. This ain't nazi germany you frickin Hitlers children.

Anonymous said...

Send sue to Mel, he has handcuffs and a polaroid camera.

Anonymous said...

Yeah so Mel can do a STRIPPER search.