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Star-Bulletin
Whitney Houston performed at Aloha Stadium in
1997 despite an illness. She faced charges for a
drug find at Kona airport in January 2000.

Whitney Houston’s
drug charge dismissed

She completed the required
payments and drug evaluation

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By Rod Thompson
Star-Bulletin

KEALAKEKUA, Hawaii -- A marijuana charge against singer and actress Whitney Houston has been dismissed, leaving her with a clean record on the Big Island.

A petty misdemeanor marijuana possession charge was dismissed Monday by District Judge Joseph Florendo after a substance abuse assessment was submitted on her behalf, said Deputy Prosecutor Melvin Fujino.

The assessment, done by Michael Burke, a New Jersey certified substance abuse counselor, said there is no need for Houston to undergo drug abuse treatment, Fujino said.

The assessment was the last of several requirements imposed on Houston for her no-contest plea to the possession charge to be dismissed.

The charge against the entertainer arose because a handbag belonging to her was found with about half an ounce of marijuana when she was boarding a plane at the Kona airport on Jan. 11, 2000. Houston left on the plane without the handbag but was later charged.

At her sentencing in November, Houston was ordered to pay $4,025 in contributions, fees and donations. Those were paid, but the drug assessment was delayed, leading Fujino to file a motion to throw out the deferred no contest plea and have Houston resentenced.

That motion is still on the court calendar for tomorrow but is now moot since the charge against Houston is dismissed, Fujino said.