Hawaii Decriminalizes Cannabis

Hawaii on Tuesday decriminalized marijuana, making it the 26th state to decriminalize or legalize the drug.

The new law removes the possibility of jail time as a penalty for up to three grams of marijuana, but maintains a $130 fine. Hawaii’s Democrat-controlled legislature approved the bill and sent it to Democratic Gov. David Ige in May. Ige didn’t sign it, but he also didn’t veto it, effectively letting it become law on Tuesday. The new law will take effect on January 11, 2020.

“Unfortunately, three grams would be the smallest amount of any state that has decriminalized (or legalized) simple possession of marijuana,” the Marijuana Policy Project, an advocacy group, noted in a statement. “Still, removing criminal penalties and possible jail time for possession of a small amount of cannabis is an improvement.”

More at

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/7/9/18623492/hawaii-marijuana-decriminalization-legalization

 

Bill Tracking:

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1383&year=2019

HB1383_CD1_

HB1383_CD1_

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