Legislation to legalize recreational marijuana was passed by two committees today in the Hawaii House of Representatives, with the votes coming a little over a week after the bill was approved by the full Senate.
Senate Bill 3335 would legalize the possession, personal cultivation and license distribution of recreational marijuana for those 21 and older. The Hawaii Cannabis Authority and Cannabis Control Board would be established within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to handle licensing and regulations for the legal marijuana industry. The measure would place a 14% tax on recreational marijuana sales, with the tax being 4% for medical marijuana.
The proposed law 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, sending it to the House. Now, it’s been approved through the House Judiciary Committee, as well as the House Agriculture and Environment Committee. If the measure is approved by the full House, it will be sent to Governor Josh Green for consideration.
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.
Last year the Senate voted 22 to 3 to pass a different marijuana legalization bill, but it stalled in the House without receiving a single committee vote.
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.
