Hawaii Nears Legalization of Recreational Cannabis and Expungement of Cannabis Possession Records
New developments are on the horizon for recreational cannabis in the Aloha State.
Legal recreational cannabis in Hawaii is one step closer to becoming a reality. On March 5th, 2024, Senate Bill 3335 was sent to the House of Representatives after being passed by the Senate by a vote of 19-6 (1). The bill would establish a regulated recreational market in the state for adults 21 years old and older, allow home cultivation of up to six plants, and allow possession of up to one ounce of cannabis, all starting in 2026 (1).
The bill would also establish the Hawaii Hemp and Cannabis Authority, which would distribute cannabis business licenses and also create an oversight committee, the Cannabis Control Board (1).
Details of some aspects of the bill, such as a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) limit for drivers and possession of loose cannabis inside a vehicle, are being challenged by advocates (1).
In addition to the legalization of recreational cannabis, expungement of criminal records of small amounts of cannabis possession could also become a reality. On March 5th, 2024, House Bill 1595 passed the House, and aims to establish a state-initiated process of expunging possession of less than three grams of cannabis (2). The process would begin in 2026 and over 36,000 individuals would reportedly be affected (1).
“The state’s existing expungement law places the burden on those with previous convictions to petition the courts for legal relief,” testified Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of NORML, an organization advocating for reforming cannabis laws (3). “But, as we have learned from other states’ experiences, many people are either unaware of their own criminal record status or are unable to navigate the legal process on their own. Some cannot afford to pay the fees necessary to hire legal representation to assist them in this process. Others remain unaware that such a process exists at all. As a result, the law is underutilized by those who could otherwise benefit from it.”
The next stop for HB 1595 is the Senate (1).
Track the recent progress of recreational cannabis legalization in Hawaii, from an initial draft of a bill to its passage through the Senate Health and Human Services and Judiciary Joint Committee.
References
- Herrington, A. J. Hawaii Senate passes Recreational Marijuana Legalization bill https://www.forbes.com/sites/ajherrington/2024/03/06/hawaii-senate-passes-recreational-marijuana-legalization-bill/?sh=6599f9981832 (accessed Mar 6, 2024).
- Leonard, M. Thousands in Hawaii with arrest records for marijuana possession could have them expunged https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/03/thousands-in-hawaii-with-arrest-records-for-marijuana-possession-could-have-them-expunged/ (accessed Mar 6, 2024).
- Hawaii lawmakers advance legalization and expungement bills https://norml.org/blog/2024/03/06/hawaii-chambers-advance-legislation-regulating-adult-use-marijuana-market-expunging-past-convictions/ (accessed Mar 6, 2024).
Ep 24, Part II: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
December 12th 2024Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, discuss the discrepancies between current regulations and data on mycotoxins and pesticides in cannabis products. They highlight the need for updated regulations based on new data, emphasizing the importance of accurate testing and labeling. They also discuss the issue of result manipulation, particularly in THC content, and the need for public health officials to address this. Yasha suggests making testing data public to enhance oversight and suggests a national entity to manage this data for better consistency and public safety.
Ep 24, Part I: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
November 21st 2024Evan Friedmann interviews Yasha Khan, co-founder of MCR Labs, about his journey into the cannabis industry and his efforts to promote transparency and integrity in laboratory practices. Yasha discusses the origins of MCR Labs, which began in Massachusetts to meet the needs of the soon-to-be legal medical cannabis market. He explains the challenges faced, including result manipulation by labs and the impact on public health. Yasha's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) project aimed to gather testing data from 37 states, revealed significant discrepancies in potency and mold results. Despite some states' reluctance to share data, Yasha has made much of this data public, leading to collaborative research and publications on various aspects of cannabis testing.
