A leading Hawaii lawmaker says he plans to reintroduce legislation to legalize marijuana for everyone 21 and older next year, keeping the issue alive after it stalled in the 2025 session despite overwhelmingly passing the Senate.

Representative David Tarnas (D), chair of the House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee, introduced HB 1246 earlier this year to allow those 21 and older to possess and purchase marijuana. A companion measure, SB 1613, was also introduced in the Senate. The Senate advanced its version with broad support, and it was approved through three different House committees, but it stalled in the House Finance Committee, the final step before a vote in the full House of Representatives.

Tarnas says he’s been consulting with other states and incorporating feedback from advocates and opponents alike in order to improve the bill in order to gain more widespread support without changing the spirit of the proposal.

According to The Marijuana Herald, the Senate’s approval earlier this year marked the first time a full legalization measure cleared one chamber of the legislature, but opposition in the House has been a persistent obstacle. Previous efforts to legalize adult use have repeatedly fallen short in committee despite growing public support and Hawaii’s long-standing medical marijuana program.

Tarnas remains optimistic that the momentum from the Senate’s action will carry over into next year, giving Hawaii another chance to join the 24 states and Washington, D.C. that have legalized recreational marijuana.