Hawaii Lawmakers Propose Legalizing Adult-Use Cannabis

Senior state lawmakers in Hawaii last week proposed legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis, regulate the plant’s production and distribution, and establish a new agency to oversee the state’s adult-use, medical cannabis, and hemp industries, Marijuana Moment reports.

House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Chair David Tarnas (D) and Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chair Joy San Buenaventura (D) sponsored the legislation in the House and Senate, respectively. The proposal would allow adults aged 21+ to possess up to one ounce of cannabis flower and up to five grams of concentrate. The proposal would also legalize small-scale cannabis home grows, allowing adults to grow up to six plants for personal use with a maximum of 10 plants — and two pounds of homegrown cannabis — per household, the report said.

The proposal would also establish the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office, which would be tasked with overseeing the state’s adult-use, medical cannabis, and hemp industries.

The Hawaii Senate successfully passed cannabis legalization reforms last year but the proposal failed to advance through the House of Representatives. Advocates believe the issue stands a better chance this year, however, partly because the new Speaker of the House, Rep. Nadine Nakamura (D), supports the reforms, the report said.

Meanwhile, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) — who supports legalizing adult-use cannabis in the state — recently signed an executive order providing stopgap protections for medical cannabis caregivers after some provisions of the state’s medical cannabis program expired.