Lawmakers in Hawaii are giving the legalization of leisure marijuana every other shot in 2024 with a minimum of 3 expenses to finish legal consequences for the ownership of hashish by way of adults offered within the state legislature in January. One measure would legalize leisure marijuana ownership and gross sales, whilst a 2d would go away the verdict as much as the state’s citizens. A 3rd, extra restricted measure would decriminalize weed ownership for adults, even supposing the ones stuck with weed would nonetheless be matter to civil fines.
Area Rep. David Tarnas and Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, each Democrats, offered spouse expenses which are in large part the made from a leisure marijuana legalization proposal presented by way of Legal professional Common Anne Lopez ultimate yr, in line with a file from Marijuana Second. If handed, the regulation (Area Invoice 2600 and Senate Invoice 3335) would permit adults elderly 21 and older to own as much as one ounce of marijuana and as much as 5 grams of hashish concentrates. The measure, which is slated to enter impact on January 1, 2026, would additionally allow the house cultivation of as much as six hashish crops and make allowance for the ownership of as much as 10 oz. of harvested homegrown marijuana.
A minimum of 3 expenses to reform Hawaii’s marijuana rules had been offered for the present … [+]
The regulation would additionally create a brand new Hawaii Hashish Authority, which might be tasked with regulating the marijuana business and licensing hashish companies together with growers, processors and shops. The brand new company could be overseen by way of a Hashish Regulate Board consisting of 5 appointed participants led by way of an govt director. Gross sales of adult-use hashish could be assessed a ten% tax on most sensible of the state’s 4% gross sales tax.
Hashish Advocates Search Adjustments To Invoice
The regulation has the beef up of state lawmakers, with 9 co-sponsors within the Hawaii Senate and 16 within the state Area of Representatives. However hashish advocacy teams together with the Nationwide Group for the Reform of Marijuana Rules (NORML) and the Marijuana Coverage Venture have raised objections to a couple provisions of the expenses, together with new legal consequences for minors.
“Typically talking, the invoice supplies a valid floorplan for adult-use legalization however erects a construction this is nonetheless a ways too punitive in its method,” Nikos Leverenz, of the Drug Coverage Discussion board of Hawai’i and the Hawai’i Well being and Hurt Aid Middle, advised Marijuana Second. “Striking a velvet glove of legalization on legislation enforcement’s iron hand isn’t what is named for.”
Karen O’Keefe, director of state insurance policies for Marijuana Coverage Venture, stated the expenses “may if truth be told do extra hurt than excellent to the reason for hashish justice” if they’re licensed of their present shape.
“Legalization will have to imply fewer hashish arrests, no longer extra,” O’Keefe advised Marijuana Second, arguing that the coverage trade “will have to come with the clearing of legal data for hashish and reinvestment in onerous hit communities. As an alternative, those expenses ramp up cannabis-specific legislation enforcement and impose prison time for harmless conduct that harms no person, together with riding lengthy after impairment wears off and having a up to now opened jar of edibles within the passenger house of a automobile.”
Area Invoice 2600 would legalize leisure marijuana for adults and make allowance for the economic … [+]
Underneath the regulation, the ownership of marijuana merchandise out of doors of a sealed bundle within the passenger house of an automotive is a crime matter to as much as 30 days in prison. Ownership of hashish by way of minors is also charged as a crime, even supposing the regulation incorporates provisions for deferred prosecution and probation. Hashish advocates additionally word that the regulation does no longer come with measures to routinely expunge previous convictions for minor marijuana convictions.
“Whilst it’s previous time Hawai’i finish hashish prohibition,” O’Keefe stated, the legislature “wishes to seriously revise the AG-drafted expenses.”
Different Weed Expenses Additionally Pending
A separate measure, Area Invoice 2037 from Republican Rep. Gene Ward, maintains that “the legalization of leisure hashish is a contentious factor that the folk of this state will have to be able to democratically make a decision,” in line with a file from the Hawaii Tribune-Bring in. Underneath the invoice, the citizens would vote on a constitutional modification “to permit people who are a minimum of 21 years of age to own and use hashish and to authorize the … Legislature to enact regulation to keep watch over the ownership, distribution, use and taxation of hashish.”
A 3rd invoice, Senate Invoice 2487 from Democratic Sen. Pleasure San Buenaventura, would decriminalize ownership of as much as one ounce of marijuana for adults. The measure would scale back such offenses from petty misdemeanors matter to as much as 30 days in prison to civil violations that may handiest lift a tremendous as punishment.
All 3 expenses had been referred to more than a few legislative committees for attention. Remaining yr, the Hawaii Senate licensed a leisure marijuana legalization invoice, however the measure has no longer gained a vote within the state Area of Representatives.
