Project SAM Urges Hawaii to Support Criminals

Across the nation, Democratic-run cities and communities have become soft on crime. Began with the BlackLivesMatter (BLM) movement. Led to defunding of police, dropping penalties for lesser crimes and ending cash bail. Crime has exploded. Retailers are leaving cities. People are horrified at the lawless behavior.

One reason for all this disharmony in our nation is the failed drug war. Republican Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy kicked off their programs to #JustSayNo. Our nation arrested and locked up millions. Democrats Bill and Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden passed the 1994 crime bill that arrested and locked up millions.

Both parties got “tough on drugs.” Neither party rebuilt our dying cities. Globalization carved out the manufacturing center. People without jobs turned to drugs in despair. Rather than incentivize business to return, elected officials put fathers and young boys in prison. We lost generations to felony convictions. These destitute males would never work professionally in America.

The War on Drugs did not reduce drug use. We have more illicit substances and more users than ever in US history. The War on Drugs simply caused prices to increase and lined pockets of drug cartels, gangs, thugs and criminals. The War on Drugs also increased the number of guns on our streets. The War on Drugs, like Vietnam, like Afghanistan, like Iraq, failed to achieve our collective objectives.

Hawai’i Currently Funds Drug Cartels and Criminals

In Hawai’i, Honolulu’s city prosecutor opposes cannabis reform. He’s a cop. He wants business. Steve Alm wants to put adults who use cannabis in prison. Steve likely drinks a few beers occasionally. Steve accepts alcohol, and normalizes consumption of alcohol. Alcohol kills about 140,000 Americans annually. Steve tolerates these deaths, because Steve accepts use and consumption of alcohol.

It is estimated that more than 140,000 people (approximately 97,000 men and 43,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes annually, making alcohol the fourth-leading preventable cause of death in the United States behind tobacco, poor diet and physical inactivity, and illegal drugs.

NIL: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

America attempted to prohibit alcohol. The War on Alcohol was a disaster as well. People said, “Fuck You” to government. They were going to drink. A war broke out on our streets. Americans passed the 21st Amendment in 1933 to repeal the 18th Amendment of 1920, which prohibited alcohol. The failed 13-years experiment should have taught us a lesson. Most Americans forgot history. Steve Alm apparently has.

Hawai’i decriminalized cannabis in 2019. This policy is like being half-pregnant. Cannabis use is not legal, but penalty for use and possession up to three (3) grams is a $130 ticket. What message does this send to our keiki?

Possession of more than three grams but less than one ounce of marijuana is a petty misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days imprisonment and/or a fine of $1,000. Possession of one ounce or more but less than one pound is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year imprisonment and/or a $2,000 fine.

Where does a small kine cannabis user obtain recreational cannabis? From criminals. Residents of Hawai’i have used cannabis for decades. Still do today. Because of official policy, Hawai’i has funded drug cartels, gangs, thugs and criminals for generations. Now, these illegal groups are entrenched, hardened and well-funded. They do not simply deal in cannabis, but meth (ice), heroin, cocaine, opioids, such as fentanyl, and more concerning, human beings.

All started with illicit cannabis trade — because so many people use cannabis. Illicit cannabis provided the basic foundation. Harder and more deadly drugs are not used by many people. Difficult to build an empire on the backs of these populations. Cannabis build the road. Now, criminals traffic our children using infrastructure built by failed War on Drugs policy. Steve Alm can’t catch the human traffickers … because he’s too busy busting surfers at the beach.

Project SAM Comes to Hawai’i … AGAIN

Hawai’i legislators appeared ready to legalize adult recreational cannabis use in 2015. Kevin Sabet, Project Sam, came to town. “The Japanese do not like cannabis,” he warned. “Legalize cannabis and your high-paying visitors will stop coming to Waikiki.” The legislature, which is made up of many Japanese Americans, caved to peer pressure. Cannabis reform died.

With the election of a medical doctor, Josh Green, Hawai’i appears poised to legalize adult use in 2023. Project SAM is back. Honolulu’s city prosecutor Steve Alm brought together other power players in Hawai’i, Tuesday, August 29, 2023, to push back against efforts to legalize “recreational marihuana” in the islands. Group included Honolulu’s police chief (Arthur “Joe” Logan), vice president of the state Senate (Michelle N. Kidani), Honolulu City Council members and business owners.

People in Hawai’i hate outsider influence. It’s a major cultural attribute. Not when it comes to cannabis, apparently. Steve welcomed Washington, DC-based, Project SAM.

At conference in Waikik, as reported by Hawai’i New Now, Prosecutor Steve Alm made the case against legalizing cannabis in Hawaii. “When you increase access and availability … we’d be saying it’s OK,” Alm said. “And you know, the kids are going to say ‘Hey, it’s OK.’ That’s what the lawmakers say.”

Steve made a STRAW MAN argument. NOBODY in Hawai’i; NOBODY in the USA; NOBODY in the world suggests, recommends or advises KIDS to use tobacco, alcohol, cannabis or any illicit substance. NOBODY.

National group Project SAM warned that people seeking profits will push to legalize marijuana despite the detrimental impacts they believe it would have on Hawai‛i’s health and wellbeing.

People seeking profits? All profit at this time, for the past 50 years, has gone to drug cartels, gangs, thugs and criminals. We seek to legalize adult use to TAKE AWAY profits from criminals. Hawai’i residents are going to use cannabis. Rather than line pockets of drug cartels, why not put this money into responsible business owners and government coffers?

Project SAM director, Kevin Sabet, claims “Big Marijuana has inflicted its harm on countless communities and they’ve again set their sights on Hawai‛i.”

BIG Marijuana? Most states and communities have relied on small businesses in their local communities, as cannabis remains illegal at the federal level. Sabet’s claim is fear-mongering and deceptive.

HARM? American companies produced and sold cannabis around the 1900s. Cannabis has been with Americans for over 120 years. All substances can be abused. Sugar is likely the most abused “drug” in America. Alcohol is abused. Tobacco is abused. We accept and have normalized use.

Why do people like Sabet focus so heavily on cannabis? Law enforcement and policies from the War on Drugs HARM Black folks, men primarily, as well as People of Color. Sabet, a White male, continues Institutional Racism against the Black community. Sabet’s position HARMS Americans and people in Hawai’i — far more than cannabis harms people.

Sabet continued fear-mongering, “They are gambling with the lives of young people who are susceptible to these industrialized high-potency THC drugs. Like its predecessors Big Tobacco and Big Alcohol, Big Marijuana is intentionally designing drugs to create a new generation of high-frequency users. Today’s THC drugs come in candies, vape oils and other forms that are more than four times more potent than the Woodstock weed.”

The alcohol content in American beer is generally 5-6%. Alcohol content in wine ranges between 5.5% – 25%, averaging about 18%. Alcohol content of whiskey is around 50%. Cannabis now comes in products with varying potency of THC. Less THC, users smoke more, for example. Higher THC, users smoke less. There is harm reduction to a smoker with higher THC content. Nobody is gambling.

Twenty-two percent of political liberals and 15% of Democrats regularly use marijuana, compared with 6% of conservatives and 7% of Republicans.

Gallup (source)

About 25% of Hawai’i residents use cannabis — medically or recreationally, as we assume all users do not report due to illegal nature. Thus, the vast majority of residents do not have extensive familiarity with the drug. Steve Alm likely can tell us about wines from different regions of USA or Europe. Might have a favorite whisky or scotch blend that he consumes. Steve and Sabet likely have never used cannabis. Why do they speak about pros and cons? Kind of hypocritical, ya?

Sabet also warned that visitors would not want to see dispensaries on every corner. There will only be dispensaries if customers demand products. And if customers are demanding products, they are currently purchasing from criminals.

QUESTION: Cannabis use is here to stay. Do you want a legal, regulated business on every corner, operated by an owner who does not sell to teens and keiki, or do you want criminals on every corner who sells to anyone?

It’s that simple. New Mexico attempted to legalize in 2000. They finally did in 2022. In that time, cannabis users paid over $7 BILLION to drug cartels, gangs, thugs and criminals — a billion would have gone to government to fund programs to keep teens from using illicit substances. Instead, policy created urban heroes who defied government’s War on Drugs. Now, they peddle meth, fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and human beings.

Last Friday, due to the continued high rates of gang-related violence, Gov Michelle Lujan Grisham defied the Second Amendment and prohibited open and concealed carry of handguns. She is being sued. She may be impeached. She may be a hero. Not clear. Might ignite a civil war. Remember, the roots of this social discord stem from the War on Drugs.

Clear Health Life does not consider Steve Alm, Kevin Sabet or Gov Grisham to be SMART. Americans are a free people. Prohibition runs counter to our principles. The majority of Americans at this time do not believe we are heading in the right direction.

Gallup polling research shows the majority of Americans (68%) support cannabis legalization. Trust the American people!

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Ko’olau of Kaua’i. I am the Defiant One
“I Believe We Can”