STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3532

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 64

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 64 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO REMOVE CANNABIS FROM THE FEDERAL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT, PROVIDE SUPPORT TO STATES THAT ARE CLEARING DEFENDANTS' RECORDS OF CANNABIS OFFENSES, AND FACILITATE ACCESS TO THE FULL SPECTRUM OF BANKING SERVICES FOR CANNABIS-RELATED BUSINESSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the United States Congress to:

(1) Remove cannabis from the Federal Controlled Substances Act;

(2) Provide support to states that are clearing defendants' records of cannabis offenses; and

(3) Facilitate access to the full spectrum of banking services for cannabis-related businesses.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaiʻi Alliance for Cannabis Reform, Hawaii Organization for Progress and Equity, ACLU Hawaiʻi, Drug Policy Forum Hawaii, and five individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii Family Forum, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that twenty-four states have legalized cannabis for adult use, and forty states, including Hawaiʻi, allow medical cannabis. However, every cannabis consumer, patient, and worker remains a criminal under federal law. Criminal records relating to cannabis result in numerous collateral consequences, including lack of access to housing, employment, loans, and professional or occupational licensing. Your Committee further finds that access to full-spectrum banking is also important because one of the biggest hurdles for social equity applicants is access to capital. Under existing federal law, applicants are often either unable to finance cannabis businesses or are forced to rely on predatory loans. By encouraging Congress to enact legislation addressing these issues, this measure will contribute to economic growth, increased freedom, and better health and safety for the State's residents.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting legislative findings relating to alcohol and tobacco use and regulation;

(2) Amending its title accordingly; and

(3) 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 64, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 64, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair