The Hawaii House of Representatives last week approved legislation to expand the state’s decriminalization of marijuana, only three days after a bill to legalize recreational cannabis in the state was killed for this year by House leaders.
The House voted on Friday to approve the pot decriminalization bill, SB2487, on its third reading. The chamber approved the bill with amendments, sending it back to the Hawaii Senate, where the measure was approved by a vote of 24-1 on March 5. To become law, the Senate must pass the amended version of the bill, which must then be signed by Democratic Gov. Josh Green.
If passed into law, the bill would decriminalize the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and up to five grams of cannabis concentrates. Instead of jail time for such offenses, the bill sets a maximum fine of $25. Under current Hawaii law, possessing more than 3 grams of marijuana is a criminal misdemeanor carrying penalties of up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
“Heavily fining or putting people in jail for possession of some small amount simply serves to impair people to hold a job, get loans, things you need to advance in society,” Democratic Sen. Chris Lee, one of the bill’s authors, told KAKE, the ABC television affiliate in Honolulu. “Decriminalizing possession of cannabis is something that is a big step forward.”
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