The Hawaii State Senate met in January to vote on a bill to allow same-sex unions. During this meeting, another bill was introduced.State Senator J. Kalani English (District 6, representing Hana, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i, Kaho‘olawe) presented a plan in January to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in Hawaii (co-sponsored with Senator Espero) and decriminalize small quantities of marijuana—a maximum of an ounce per adult. Kalani added the stipulation to a bill that would allow same-sex unions.
In order for these bills to pass, they must have a two-thirds in favor vote. “We have seventeen out of twenty-five signatures already,” claimed Senator English. ”It’s the economic climate that is allowing this to happen,” stated Senator English.
According to statistics cited in the bill, the State of Hawaii spends 4.1 million dollars enforcing marijuana possession laws and an additional 2.1 million dollars are spent by courts to process the cases which are largely dismissed. For a state that has a 1.2 billion dollar deficit, 6.2 million dollars is a substantial amount of currency. The decriminalization of marijuana would help to relieve both the strained police department and court system. With the planned 4% tax revenue from sales at dispensaries, the bills sound much more appealing to a cash-starved state.
“That’s why we are introducing these bills together,” Senator English said. “We have to strike while we can.”
Currently, marijuana patients in Hawaii who cannot grow their own cannabis are forced to purchase from street sources. “We already have the medical marijuana law,” Senator English said. “We are just lacking the dispensaries.”
Under current terms of the bill, the number of dispensaries permitted will be at each individual county’s discretion. Maui and the Big Island will be the most likely candidates for future dispensaries in accordance with their more liberal stance on cannabis.
If the two bills come to fruition, Hawaii could see the bills go into effect almost immediately—as early as June—according to Senator English.
When asked if legalization—which has the potential to generate even more revenue—is the next move, Senator English answered, “Baby steps.” The biggest opponents include the Chamber of Commerce, Board of Realtors and law enforcement.
“When I explained the bill to the Chief of Police, he was at first taken aback,” said Senator English. “But, as I explained to him that we are decriminalizing—where we would be treating it more like parking tickets and not legalizing—he started to turn around a little bit.”
If decriminalized, misdemeanor marijuana possession will be cited as a civil violation (i.e. same as a speeding ticket) and the violator will be fined a maximum of $100 for an ounce or less.
“With marijuana set to a lower priority, the police will be able to concentrate their efforts on bigger threats to the Islands—like ice (a.k.a. crystal methamphetamine),” said Senator English.
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