Hawaii Representatives Gene Ward (R) and Kim Iwamoto (D) have introduced House Bill 519, a measure proposing a constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana for adults aged 21 and over.
If approved, the bill would allow voters to decide the issue, potentially aligning Hawaii with the 24 states that have already legalized recreational marijuana.
Last year, a legislative effort to legalize marijuana advanced further than ever before in Hawaii’s history. The Senate passed the measure with a 19 to 6 vote, and it gained approval from three House committees. However, the proposal was ultimately blocked by the chair of the House Finance Committee, preventing it from reaching the House floor for a full vote. Supporters expressed strong confidence that the measure would have passed had it been given the chance.
House Bill 519 seeks to amend Article IX of Hawaii’s constitution, granting the legislature authority to regulate the possession, distribution, use, and taxation of cannabis. The bill underscores the significance of allowing the public to decide on legalization, citing it as a democratic solution to a contentious issue.
A 2024 survey found that 52% of Hawaiian adults supporting legalization and 31% opposed.
If successful, the question posed to voters would read: “Shall the State Constitution be amended to allow individuals who are at least twenty-one years of age to possess and use cannabis and to authorize the Hawaii State Legislature to enact legislation to regulate the possession, distribution, use, and taxation of cannabis?”
