A third committee in the Hawaii House of Representatives has passed a bill to legalize marijuana which has already been approved by the full Senate.
The House Consumer Protection & Commerce Committee voted today to pass Senate Bill 3335, which would legalize recreational marijuana for everyone 21 and older. If the measure is passed by the full House of Representatives, it will be sent to Governor Josh Green for consideration.
If enacted into law, the measure would legalize the possession, personal cultivation and license distribution of marijuana. The legal marijuana industry would be overseen by the Hawaii Cannabis Authority and Cannabis Control Board, established within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. The Authority would handle licensing, regulatory oversight and so forth.
SB 3335 would place a 14% tax on recreational marijuana sales, with the tax being 4% for medical marijuana. The proposal would allow those with convictions for marijuana-related crimes that would be legal under the bill to have the charges expunged from their record.
Earlier this month the Senate passed the bill with a 19 to 6 vote.
Under current law possessing up to three grams of marijuana is decriminalized, but possessing more than three grams is a misdemeanor, and no amount is considered legal if not for medical use.
According to polling released last year, 52% of adults in Hawaii in support of legalizing marijuana, with just 31% opposed.
Recently we named Hawaii one of four states on track to legalize marijuana in 2024. You can find the full list by clicking here.
