Members of the House Judiciary Committee failed to act on legislation to permit adults to legally possess and cultivate personal use amounts of marijuana before the 2016 legislative session came to a close.
Senate Bill 873 sought to amend the criminal code to remove criminal penalties specific to the possession and cultivation of marijuana for personal use by those age 21 or older.
2016 was the final year in a two year session so this marks the end of consideration for this piece of legislation.
According to an analysis of 2010 marijuana arrests data, Hawaii police make some 1,500 marijuana possession arrests annually. Minor marijuana possession offenders, many of them young people, should not be saddled with a criminal record and the lifelong penalties and stigma associated with it.
NORML would like to thank those of you who contacted your state lawmakers in support of this legislation.
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns
