Header Image: Judiciary Chair David Tarnas,
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The Hawaiʻi State House of Representatives has returned to committee a bill aimed at legalizing recreational marijuana for adults aged 21 and older, a move likely to kill the measure this session in the House, disappointing advocates and sparking ongoing debate.
However, companion Senate Bill 1613 remains alive and is headed for a public hearing this week before two Senate committees.
House Bill 1246 House Draft 1 was initially recommended for passage by the House committees on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs and Agriculture & Food Systems on Feb. 4. It was returned to committee Feb. 6.
Judiciary Chair David Tarnas, of Kohala, Hawaiʻi Island, and a leading proponent of the bill, told Maui Now via email that he was disappointed by the House leadership decision to reverse course on the measure.
“I would have welcomed the opportunity to have a vote on the floor, but the House leadership decided to recommit the bill to committee,” Tarnas said. He emphasized the need for comprehensive cannabis policy reform in Hawaiʻi, saying that the current status quo is “not acceptable.”
Voting “no” on the House floor to recommit House Bill 1264 to committee were Reps. Terez Amato of South Maui; Elle Cochran of West Maui; Amy Perruso of Wahiawā; Kanani Souza of Kapolei-Makakilo; and Della Au Belatti and Kim Coco Iwamoto, both of urban Honolulu.
Moving forward on legalization in Hawaiʻi, Tarnas said he would work with House Speaker Nadine Nakamura and other committee chairs to develop legislation aimed at protecting public health and safety while addressing cannabis regulations.
“It is time we have a comprehensive policy to regulate all aspects of the cannabis industry in Hawaiʻi,” he said. “I am disappointed that we did not have sufficient votes yesterday to secure passage of HB1246 HD1 in the House. I would have welcomed the opportunity to have a vote on the floor, but the House leadership decided to recommit the bill to committee. So, I will defer to the House Speaker about the reasons for the recommittal.”
A Maui Now request for comment from Speaker Nakamura on Friday has gone unanswered. Similarly, a request for comments from Maui County’s House delegation has received no response from all six members as of this morning.
Political analyst Colin Moore, an author and associate professor in the University of Hawaiʻi School of Communication and Information, shared insights into the complexities surrounding marijuana legalization in Hawaiʻi. He noted that the state’s political culture, which leans towards moderate-to-conservative Democrats, often leads to a preference for baby steps rather than sweeping reforms.
“Major policy shifts rarely happen without broad consensus, and legalization has remained politically divisive,” Moore explained. Despite a winter 2023 Pacific Resource Partnership poll indicating that 58% of Hawaiʻi residents support marijuana legalization, the figure falls short of the national approval rate of 70%, according to a Gallup survey.
Moore also pointed to significant opposition from law enforcement agencies and concerns from the tourism industry as barriers to legalization.
“Nobody wants to be seen as soft on crime,” he said, referring to the apprehension among lawmakers regarding the potential implications of recreational marijuana on public safety and the state’s reputation as a family-friendly destination.
As lawmakers continue to grapple with the issue, there is speculation that 2025 could be a pivotal year for marijuana legalization in Hawaiʻi.
“Lawmakers don’t have to face an election in November, so they face less immediate political risk,” Moore said. However, he cautioned that the contentious nature of the debate was underscored by the narrow 6-4 vote in the House Judiciary Committee supporting the bill on Feb. 4.
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