![]() The state of Hawaii seems like it would be a perfect fit for cannabis, but to date, the ‘Aloha State’ has not embraced legalization of the plant. Hawaii does have a limited medical marijuana program, but they recreational adult use is not legal there. At least not yet! Hawaii’s former Governor was not a strong cannabis supporter, and often stated his hesitancy to support it, due to it’s federally illegal status. But now, there is a newly elected Governor, Josh Green, who does support cannabis. Just prior to being elected, and during a debate in October 2022, Green said that if it were up to him, marijuana should be monitored carefully and handled, “like cigarettes…”. He also added, “We should take the $30 to $40 million of taxes we would get from that and invest in the development and recreation of our mental healthcare system for the good of all.” So, now, with a more cannabis friendly Governor, it’s looking more likely for the gorgeous state to get a bit greener! The first indication of that was seen on January 11th, at a press conference at the state capitol. The press conference was held by Hawaii state congressional Representative, Democrat Jeanné Kapela, who announced that she would soon be introducing proposed cannabis legislation for the state. Her press conference was held in conjunction with the Marijuana Policy Project, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, and the ACLU of Hawaii. The Marijuana Policy Project’s Senior Legislative Counsel, DeVaughn Ward, started the press conference and emphasized the urgent need for legislation. He said, “Marijuana prohibition has caused immeasurable harm to our communities, particularly communities of color,” and, “Cannabis legalization is an opportunity to stop the harm to our residents and the waste of limited public safety resources.” The next speaker up was Nikos Levernez of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii. He talked of the “critical opportunity” legislators have to legalize cannabis, and to address the needs of those affected by the War on Drugs. He also pointed out that, “…a properly regulated adult-use market will create many quality jobs and business opportunities across [Hawaii].” And with the potential for cannabis plants to really thrive in Hawaii’s climate, that could equate to the potential growth and strength of Hawaiian craft cannabis brands, cannabis tourism, and scientific research. Up next at the press conference was George Cordero from ACLU Hawaii. He spoke about the negative effects of cannabis prohibition. He pointed out that keeping it illegal creates low level cannabis convictions that drain the state’s financial resources, contribute to overcrowding in prisons, and dramatically impacts people’s lives. Cordero said, “Having a marijuana conviction on your record can make it extremely difficult to get employment, apply for a credit card, secure housing, for work the rest of your life.” Representative Kapela then took the mic, and said, “We all know, and Hawaii’s people know, that it is high time to legalize recreational cannabis use for adults in Hawaii.” And while she and the other speakers spoke of the urgent need for legalization, Kapela did not give a time frame for when her proposed bill would be ready to officially be introduced to the state Senate. Comments are closed.
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