STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2835
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 2487
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2487 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MARIJUANA,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to:
(1) Increase the minimum amount of marijuana necessary for a person to commit the offense of promoting a detrimental drug in the second degree from one ounce to more than two ounces;
(3) Amend the fine for a violation under promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Public Defender, one member of the Kauaʻi County Council, ACLU of Hawaii, Marijuana Policy Project, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute, Aloha Green Holdings Inc., Last Prisoner Project, Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Cannabis Society of Hawaiʻi, Rainbow Family 808, and five individuals.
Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Honolulu Police Department, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, and three individuals.
Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition.
Your Committee finds that the consequences of arresting, prosecuting, and incarcerating people for personal drug use are devastating. People who have been convicted of possession of small amounts of marijuana cycle through the criminal justice system and are not able to successfully contribute to society or have the support of their social network. Additionally, a criminal record can carry lasting, detrimental effects on finding employment, housing, and accessing educational opportunities. This measure will make the State's cannabis laws more responsible, just, and equitable.
Your
Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing
the minimum amount of marijuana necessary for a person to commit the offense of
promoting a detrimental drug in the second degree from more than two ounces to
thirty grams or more;
(2) Deleting
language that would have repealed marijuana from the offense of promoting a
detrimental drug in the third degree;
(3) Decreasing
the amount of marijuana a person may possess for the offense of
promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree to be a violation from one
ounce or less of marijuana to fifteen grams or less;
(4) Deleting
language that would have adjusted the fine for committing a violation under the
offense of promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree to an unspecified
amount; and
(5) Making
technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and
consistency.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2487, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2487, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,
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________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair |
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