Hawaii

The Hawaii Senate has rejected a cannabis decriminalization proposal over concerns that the reforms would lead to a stronger illicit market in the state.

Hawaii lawmakers in the House Finance Committee rejected the state’s Senate-approved adult-use cannabis legalization proposal, killing the bill for the year.

Hawaii House lawmakers in two key committees this week voted to advance — with amendments — the cannabis legalization bill that was passed earlier this month by the state Senate.

Lawmakers in the Hawaii Senate voted decisively to legalize adult-use cannabis on Tuesday but the proposal faces an uncertain future in the House, which rejected a legalization proposal last year.

Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez has authored a bill to legalize adult-use cannabis; the proposal includes a 10% tax surcharge and 4.25% excise tax on adult-use sales but would not impose taxes on the medical cannabis industry.

The Hawaii Senate voted 22-3 in favor of an adult-use cannabis legalization proposal yesterday; the measure moves next to the House.

Two Hawaii Senate committees advanced an adult-use cannabis legalization proposal this week; the measure heads next to the chamber’s Judiciary Committee and Ways and Means Committee.

If Hawaii were to legalize adult-use cannabis, the state’s annual cannabis tax revenue could reach between $34 million and $53 million. Lawmakers are likely to consider a legalization proposal later this year.

The Hawaii Tax Department released projections that adult-use cannabis legalization could lead to an estimated $50 million in additional annual state revenue.

Hawaii regulators last week banned CBD gummies and beverages and all smokeable hemp products—critics are saying the new rules could make hemp production in Hawaii less desirable.

Multiple mayors throughout Hawaii declared June 14 ‘Medical Cannabis Day,’ officially commemorating the 20th anniversary of the state’s historic medical cannabis reforms.

Hawaii officials and some medical cannabis licensees have been accused of putting patients’ health at risk via vape cartridges that would be deemed unsafe in other state markets.

Lawmakers in Hawaii have proposed hiring and firing protections for medical cannabis patients; the bill would not extend to certain professions, including law enforcement officers, emergency medical workers, and others.

A cannabis decriminalization law in Hawaii has taken effect without Gov. David Ige’s signature; the governor, however, vetoed a bill allowing patients to transport medical cannabis products between islands and another bill that would have made permanent the state’s hemp program.

Hawaii lawmakers have advanced a bill that would make the state’s temporary industrial hemp marketplace permanent; the governor is expected to sign the bill.

Hawaii will now let cannabis patients from other states access its medical cannabis program while visiting.