Why ? taxes taxes taxes and more taxes is the answer. The tourism market has been severely affected by the pandemic and the state government needs to bolster tax revenue and quickly too.
KITV4 Hawaii reports
Pandemic renews calls for marijuana legalization in Hawaii
“Law enforcement has been against it, conservative groups have been against it,” explains former State Senator Will Espero.
But he says the pandemic has changed the game. With record unemployment and calls to diversity our tourism-heavy economy, Espero says he believes lawmakers will be more willing to take another look next session.
Espero says if legalization were to pass, Hawaii would already have the infrastructure in place to support the industry. “We have people already growing, and who know to grow,” he says.
He says while other states may have been first, Hawaii could easily position itself as the best in the industry. “There’s no reason Hawaii couldn’t market itself as having the best product in the world,” he says.
More at https://www.kitv.com/story/42564838/pandemic-renews-calls-for-marijuana-legalization-in-hawaii