Hawaii Won’t Legalize Marijuana This Year Despite Senate Passage, But Advocates Look To 2024!
A marijuana legalization bill passed by the Hawaii Senate has stuck in the House for the year, but supporters are turning their attention to 2024 in the hopes of passing the change during the second half of the two-year legislative session.
Sen. Joy San Buenaventura’s (D) proposal cleared the Senate earlier this month, and expectations were high that it would pass the House as well. It will have to wait until next year to perhaps progress further since a hearing wasn’t arranged before a deadline for legislation that have been referred to three or more committees.
The bill won’t have to start over in the Senate next year since the session hasn’t concluded yet. As Speaker Scott Saiki (D) previously stated he would prefer to do during the summer, this may also offer House members who are undecided about the measure additional time to discuss and improve it.
The legislation underwent numerous significant amendments in the Senate, including the inclusion of language on expungements, which is supported by activists. The updated proposal, according to Rep. Jeanne Kapela (D), who introduced a rival legalization bill that did not move, represents a remarkable compromise.
Yet, proponents who have pushed for quick passage of the legislation under the Democratic-controlled legislature and with a governor who supports legalization are disappointed by the House’s inactivity.
The failure of House leadership to take adult-use cannabis legalization forward this year is sad but not unexpected, according to Nikos Leverenz of the Drug Policy Forum on Hawaii, who spoke to the media. Working groups and task forces have suggested significant medical cannabis improvements, including as patient employment protections, but little action has been taken on their recommendations.
Leverenz, who was a member of the state task group that looked into cannabis-related concerns last year, expressed hope that individuals in the House who oppose reasonable reforms will come forward and explain why residents of Hawaii deserve less than those in other states.
DeVaughn Ward, senior legislative counsel at the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), similarly stated to the media that supporters are disappointed that the House declined to hold a hearing on a legalization bill that was approved by a strong majority in the Senate.
According to him, MPP and other supporters would rely on House leadership and committee chairs to uphold their word and work on the measure throughout the recess. We’re hopeful that Hawaii will legalize it in 2024.
On the other hand, Kevin Sabet of the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana rejoiced in Hawaii’s continued rejection of legalization under Democratic rule.
The following are some of the primary elements of SB 669 as amended
Up to 30 grams of cannabis can be bought, possessed, and grown for personal use by adults over the age of 21. Just three of the six plants can reach maturity. Marijuana might also be given as gifts between adults.
The Department of Health would create an independent Hawaii Cannabis Regulation Authority to oversee both the industry and the current medicinal marijuana program.
In order to serve both patients and adult customers, existing medical cannabis shops would be able to get a dual license as part of the market’s initial launch through a pilot program.
A 10% tax would be levied on marijuana-related goods, with the money going to the state treasury. Businesses that deal with cannabis would also be entitled to deduct business expenses from their state income tax.
An earlier prohibition on cannabis vaping goods was lifted under a replacement amendment that was approved.
Much to the relief of activists who had questioned the removal of such provisions in the as-introduced text, language allowing for the expungement of some earlier marijuana convictions were included.
At the state attorney general’s request, civil penalties for unauthorized cannabis business activities were also introduced. The desired amendment to compel marijuana products to include a track-and-trace system was also adopted by MPs.
The measure as updated places limits on the number of marijuana enterprises that individual entities could own to reduce the possibility of developing a monopolized market. The size of authorized cultivation facilities is also subject to new restrictions.
Any location in the state where smoking tobacco is prohibited was off-limits to adults. Condominiums may also impose similar restrictions on cannabis smoking as they do on cigarettes.
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Over the course of several sessions, lawmakers attempted to enact legalization in the Aloha State, but despite the change receiving Senate approval in 2021, it was unable to go beyond a House committee by a crucial date. As a result, it stagnated.
In part because he said he was hesitant to approve legislation that clashes with federal law, former Democratic governor David Ige, who has opposed legalization, has been difficult for advocates to work with. Despite the fact that Hawaii has a medical marijuana program that permits individuals to cultivate and sell cannabis in defiance of a general federal ban, this is the case.
