02-12-2012, 06:08 AM
Beach boy, how long have you lived in Hawaii? There is more money being made illegally with marijuana in this state than you could ever imagine. We live on a island. This is a huge cash crop for people here. The police here have family or close friends that make a living growing, I can almost guarantee it. This is an argument that has gone on since I was little and the 1 stand out point that is made over and over is the amount of money that would be taken away from people who grow. Take in to consideration the lack of jobs, the high price of everything, ect. If it was made legal, there would be alot of angry, hungry people.
Do I agree with people not working and taking the easy way out, no. But I have lived on this island for 25+ years. This is the reality and will be for more than awhile. The negative impact of making it 100% legal with dispenseries is far greater than the positive. That is taking into consideration dispenseries would provide a few with jobs and employ a few growers. Because of the climate, you can grow year round here without pause. This is what draws numerous people here to grow and make a good living at it. Some make it better than others.
Go to Pahoa and walk around. Try going to First Hawaiian Bank and see how many people sell right out in front all afternoon long. Kehena's, downtown Hilo, broad daylight all week. It disgusts me so much about what goes on in front of my bank FH in pahoa that I no longer go there cause they do nothing about it. Same people that have been doing it for years, still. If this was taken away, what would all these guys move into for making money? Theft? Harder drugs? These are the real questions being pondered when legalization is brought up. It is all about positives and negatives and which out weighs which. A legal place to buy would also charge much more than someone on the street would because of overhead alone. How many people would be willing to pay more for something that is available everywhere for cheaper? Gotta look at the whole picture and history of this island.
Do I agree with people not working and taking the easy way out, no. But I have lived on this island for 25+ years. This is the reality and will be for more than awhile. The negative impact of making it 100% legal with dispenseries is far greater than the positive. That is taking into consideration dispenseries would provide a few with jobs and employ a few growers. Because of the climate, you can grow year round here without pause. This is what draws numerous people here to grow and make a good living at it. Some make it better than others.
Go to Pahoa and walk around. Try going to First Hawaiian Bank and see how many people sell right out in front all afternoon long. Kehena's, downtown Hilo, broad daylight all week. It disgusts me so much about what goes on in front of my bank FH in pahoa that I no longer go there cause they do nothing about it. Same people that have been doing it for years, still. If this was taken away, what would all these guys move into for making money? Theft? Harder drugs? These are the real questions being pondered when legalization is brought up. It is all about positives and negatives and which out weighs which. A legal place to buy would also charge much more than someone on the street would because of overhead alone. How many people would be willing to pay more for something that is available everywhere for cheaper? Gotta look at the whole picture and history of this island.