Lawmakers back in Honolulu; marijuana policy up for debate
The second half of the 2011-2012
legislative session in Hawaii began on January 18, 2012. The first half adjourned
without any major changes made to the state’s marijuana policy. Although a
handful of bills easily passed the Senate, the House failed to take action on
many of the proposals, postponing any finality until this year. With the help
of legislators, advocates, and all of our members, we can reform Hawaii’s
marijuana policy for the benefit of all Aloha State residents.
Of particular note is the fate of SB
1458. SB 1458, a bill originally introduced to establish a
well-regulated medical marijuana dispensary program, passed through both
chambers in different forms. A conference committee was set up to reconcile the
language and present the governor with a uniform bill. MPP supported the bill
up until Sen. Josh Green proposed amendments that
would have seriously damaged the current medical marijuana program.
Sen. Green’s proposal would have
severely limited the list of qualifying conditions to multiple sclerosis,
cancer, HIV, AIDS, and glaucoma. Thousands of registered patients who have
other serious medical conditions, such as severe pain, would have been kicked
out of the program and recriminalized. The bill would have also set up a pilot
program with a single medical marijuana dispensary. Although the committee
could not agree on language, the bill has carried over to this year.
Here is current status of the rest
of the marijuana policy bills:
SB 1460 sought to replace the criminal
penalties for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana with a simple civil violation
of $100. SB 1460 passed the Senate 24-0-1
(Ayes-Noes-excused). It was assigned to the House committees on health, public safety, and judiciary. It has yet to be scheduled for a hearing.
SB 175
proposed that
the state transfer jurisdiction of the medical marijuana program from the
Department of Public Safety to the Department of Health. SB 175 passed the Senate
24-1-0,
but was not heard by the House. It was assigned to the House committees on health, public safety, and finance. It has yet to be scheduled for a hearing.
SB 58 would have, among other things,
increased possession limits for patients. SB 58 passed the Senate 24-0-1. It was assigned to the House committees on health, public safety, finance, and judiciary. It has yet to be scheduled for a hearing.
SB 113 would have created a three-year
medical marijuana research program in Hawaii. SB 113 passed the Senate 23-2-0. It was assigned to the House committees on health, public safety, finance, and judiciary. It has yet to be scheduled for a hearing.
These bills are all active and can be picked up again at any time. Please subscribe to MPP's free email alerts to stay current on marijuana policy in Honolulu. MPP would lilke to thank The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, The Pacific Wellness Coalition Group , and Matt Rifkin for all of their hands-on advocacy
work in Honolulu. Finally, thanks to all of you who take action and contact
your legislators.
Marijuana
Laws in Hawaii
Did
you know that Hawaii has the lowest per capita arrest rate in the United States
for marijuana offenses? If you would like to learn more about marijuana laws in
Hawaii, you can read this in-depth report
by Harvard University economist Jon Gettman, PhD.
Stay
connected
To
stay updated on the status of marijuana policy reform in Hawaii, be sure to subscribe to MPP's free legislative alert service .
