Members of the House have approved legislation providing significantly reduced penalties for marijuana possession.
On Friday, House members approved SB 2487 on its third reading. Members of the Senate had previously approved an earlier version of the bill by unanimous vote. Senators must now revisit the bill because the House made several changes to the text.
As amended by the House, the bill decriminalizes the possession of up to one ounce of cannabis and/or up to five grams of cannabis concentrates — imposing a maximum fine of $25. (Under current law, possessing more than three grams of cannabis is defined as a criminal misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.) The bill also reduces penalties for the use of marijuana in public to a fine-only violation.
Possessing larger amounts of cannabis will remain a misdemeanor offense, but will be subject to reduced penalties.
“Every year, hundreds of Hawai’i residents are arrested for personal use quantities, creating criminal records that make it difficult to get housing and jobs,” Karen O’Keefe, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project told Marijuana Moment. “It’s long past time Hawaii stops ruining lives over cannabis possession.”
Other legislative efforts addressing the expungement of cannabis-related criminal records remain pending. However, House members did table Senate-backed legislation that sought to regulate the adult-use marijuana market.
Additional information on pending legislation is available from NORML’s Take Action Center.