Maui County’s state Senate delegation was united Monday in voting with the majority of senators to kill a bill that would have decriminalized the possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana.
Sen. Troy Hashimoto (Wailuku, Kahului, Waihe‘e, Waikapū Mauka, Waiehu) said: “I would rather have a structure to tax and regulate marijuana rather than pursuing decriminalization, which would allow an unchecked market and potentially unsafe products to exist within our community.”
He pointed out that, earlier this session, the Senate passed Senate Bill 3335, which would have set up a regulatory framework for the legalization of marijuana with numerous safeguards and with input from the Hawaiʻi Department of the Attorney General. However, that measure stalled in the House.
Now, Hashimoto said, “I think it is best that we go back to the drawing board and return next year on how we would like to appropriately handle the issue within our community.”
On Monday afternoon, Maui Now also reached out for comment from Maui County Sens. Lynn DeCoite (East Maui, Upcountry, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i) and Angus McKelvey (West Maui, Mā‘alaea, Waikapū, South Maui). However, there was no response in time for publication of this post.
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Maui senators vote with majority in killing marijuana decriminalization bill
