By On March 7, the Hawaii Senate passed the adult-use cannabis bill by a vote of 22-3.also called SB669 SD2, the bill sets the framework for cultivation, manufacturing, marketing, and taxes. This allows residents to own up to 30 grams, grow up to 6 plants for personal use, and even decriminalize small amounts of cannabis.
The bill was first introduced on January 20 by Senators Joy A. San Buenaventura, Stanley Chan, Jarrett Keokaroll, and Angus LK McKelvey, and has consistently handled a large number of bills. . Commission hearingSenator Keokalore chairs the Senate Committee on Commercial and Consumer Protection. a fix was madeThis includes enacting penalties for unlicensed cultivation, protecting employers who wish to ban the use of cannabis by their employees, preventing cannabis businesses from starting within 1,000 feet of youth-related areas, and prohibiting the development of cannabis monopolies. Includes other changes to address licensing.
“Today marks a significant step in the legalization of adult-use cannabis in Hawaii. “It reflects the Senate’s commitment to ensuring a regulated cannabis market,” Keohokalole said. We hope that his administration, which has opposed all proposals to decommission, will work with us to make this happen.”
After passing the Senate with an amendment, it was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration on the same day.
On January 11, another adult-use cannabis bill, HB-237, was introduced by Hawaii Rep. Jeanne Capella. The bill would also establish a regulatory framework for legalization, but would also include language that would allow out-of-state patients to benefit from the Medical Cannabis Act, making the sale of medical marijuana subject to general excise taxes. exempt fromIn addition, Capella was introduced HB-283This prohibits employers from discriminating potential employers or current employees for medical cannabis consumption. No progress has been made past the public hearings.
A recent poll published by Hawaii Cannabis Industry Association As of the end of January, 86% of Hawaii’s adult residents were in favor of legalizing marijuana for adult use, only 9% were against it, and 5% were unaware. The poll also found the adult version to be slightly more popular than the medical version, with a 45% vs. 41% comparison. Overall, the state could collect up to $81.7 million in taxes and her $423 million in total revenue if cannabis legalization were passed.
Additional report from Dual Use Cannabis Task Force It also released its findings in January, sharing that cannabis tax revenue could reach $34 million to $53 million.
Kapela focused on the data provided by that task force report to create the bill she submitted. “We all know, and as the people of Hawaii know, that it is time to legalize adult recreational cannabis use in Hawaii. “I’m standing on the floor,” Capella said. “Following the recommendations of the task force dedicated to addressing cannabis policy, we now have a roadmap for legalizing recreational cannabis on our islands.”
Aside from the pace of support for cannabis legalization from legislators, efforts to legalize therapeutic psilocybin are also gaining popularity. One such bill, SB-1454, was introduced in January. was unanimously passed by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on February 6. Psilocybin for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and end-of-life distress.
