Lawmakers have failed to act on legislation to decriminalize the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by adults.
Senate Bill 596 SD 1 sought to reclassify possession of less than one ounce of marijuana from a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $ 1,000 fine to a civil violation, punishable by a $ 100 fine only — no arrest and no criminal record.
The measure was previously approved by the Senate Committee on Health but members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor failed to take further action. Similar decriminalization measures — SB 666, SB 879 , SB 708, and SB 681 were also never considered in the Senate. HB 372 was never heard in the House.
2016 was the final year in a two year session so this marks the end of consideration for all of these pieces 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 elected officials and urged their support for these common sense reforms.
National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – Advocacy Campaigns
