Hawaii State Senator Joy San Buenaventura (D) has introduced Senate Resolution 68, urging the U.S. Congress to remove marijuana from the federal Controlled Substances Act.
Filed today, the resolution also calls for federal action to ensure marijuana-related businesses have access to banking services, and it calls on the government to support state-level efforts to expunge cannabis-related offenses.
The measure highlights Hawaii’s existing marijuana policies, including the legalization of medical use in 2000, the establishment of a dispensary system in 2015, and the decriminalization of small possession amounts in 2019. Despite these reforms, thousands of individuals in the state have been arrested for marijuana possession in the past decade, with arrests continuing even after decriminalization. The resolution argues that federal prohibition prevents full economic and legal integration of marijuana into society, leaving businesses and individuals vulnerable to legal and financial obstacles.
Specifically, the resolution states that the “United States Congress is requested to enact legislation to:
(1) Remove cannabis from the federal Controlled Substances Act;
(2) Provide support to states that are in the process of clearing cannabis offenses from defendants’ records; and
(3) Facilitate the full spectrum of banking services for cannabis-related businesses
If passed, the resolution would be sent to top congressional leaders, President Donald Trump, and Hawaii’s congressional delegation, urging them to take action on marijuana reform at the federal level.
