24 states have legalized recreational marijuana. Although several are vying to become the 25th, Hawaii appears the most on track to do so.
Earlier this week the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to pass Senate Bill 3335 to legalize recreational marijuana, the same day it was passed through the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Committee. The measure, which is based on an outline put forth by Attorney General Anne E. Lopez, is expected to soon be considered by the full Senate, which voted 22 to 3 to pass a different legalization bill last session.
The proposed law would allow those 21 and older to purchase up to an ounce of marijuana and five grams of marijuana concentrates from licensed marijuana retail outlets, supplied by licensed growers and processors. The legislation would establish the Hawaii Cannabis Authority and Cannabis Control Board within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs in order to oversee a legal marijuana market, with recreational marijuana taxed at 14% and medical marijuana taxed at 4%. The personal cultivation of up to six plants would also be allowed.
Although the House of Representatives failed to act on last year’s legalization bill, proponents of this year’s measure are hopeful that after a year of consideration and with a new, more moderate bill, the House will vote to legalize this session.
Recently the House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs Committee voted overwhelmingly pass House Bill 1596 to decriminalize the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. Although this wouldn’t legalize marijuana, it shows that the House is at least open to removing criminal penalties for marijuana possession, and will likely give serious consideration to Senate Bill 3335 once it’s sent to them.
If the Senate and House does approve SB 3335, Governor Josh Green says he will sign it into law, meaning the only real obstacle to it being enacted is getting it through the House of Representatives.
According to polling released last year, 52% of adults in Hawaii support of legalizing marijuana, with just 31% opposed.
If Hawaii doesn’t legalize marijuana this session, one of these states could instead become the 25h to legalize marijuana.
