People vote to make pot lowest police priority
November 5, 2008 - Hawaii County

A measure to make marijuana the lowest enforcement priority for the Hawaii County Police Department has won the vote of the public. In yesterday’s 2008 general election, over 53 percent of the votes cast were in favor of the Peaceful Sky initiative, which was placed on the November ballot by a Hawaii County Council vote in August.

According to language in the ordinance introduced by council, the purpose of the article is to “provide law enforcement more time and resources to focus on more series crimes”, free up prison space and the court system, and “reduce the fear of prosecution and the stigma of criminality from non-violent citizens who harmlessly cultivate and/or use Cannabis for personal, medicinal, religious, and recreational purposes.”

38% of the voting public voted against the measure. 8% of all Big Island voters left the ballot question blank.

The above pot pics were taken from the Hawaiian Highlands website.