HI: Do your part to support two important bills

Published: February 3, 2011

On Friday, February 4, legislative committees will be taking testimony on bills that would allow regulated dispensing of medical marijuana and decriminalize marijuana in the Aloha State! Please ask your senator to support both of these sensible bills.

SB 1458 would create three classes of licenses to allow state-regulated compassion centers. It will receive a hearing in front of both the Senate Committee on Health and the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs at 3:45 p.m. tomorrow in conference room 229. SB 1458 would ensure that medical marijuana patients in Hawaii have safe and reliable access to the medicine that their physicians recommend. In addition to e-mailing your senator, please consider submitting written testimony in support directly to the committee. You can find talking points in support here.

The second bill, SB 1460, would decriminalize possession of up to one ounce of marijuana. This bill would replace the current penalty for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana (up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000) with a simple civil violation of $100. It will receive a hearing in front of both the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor and the Senate Committee on Health at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow in conference room 229. Please voice your support of this proposal to your senator and consider submitting written testimony in support of this bill as well. Talking points in support to aid you in drafting testimony can be found here.

Legislators serve at the will of the people and should respect their constituents' opinions. Make sure your senator knows that you support sensible marijuana reform in Hawaii today!