Cannabis in Hawaii

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Cannabis in Hawaii is illegal for recreational use, but decriminalized for possession of three grams or less. Medical use was legalized through legislation passed in 2000, making Hawaii the first state to legalize medical use through state legislature rather than through ballot initiative.

Contents

Medical cannabis (2000)

In 2000, Hawaiian governor Ben Cayetano signed into law Act 228, allowing medical marijuana cardholders to grow their own cannabis or appoint a caretaker to do so. In signing the law, Hawaii became the 8th state to legalize medical cannabis and the first to do so through an act of state legislature. The law did not establish any legal market or dispensaries. [1]

Dispensary program (2015)

In 2015, the Medical Marijuana Dispensary Program of Hawaii was created to require those who qualify for medical marijuana to register before using marijuana for medical purposes. [2] To register, you must have a licensed physician certifying that the patient’s health condition can be benefited from medical marijuana. The patient will then receive a 329 Registration Card issued by the Department of Health. The goal of the Department of Health for issuing the 329 Registration Card is to issue it in a timely manner so that patients can continue or start to use medical marijuana legally. [3]

In July 2015, The Act 241 was passed. It states that the Hawaii Department of Health will administer the Medical Marijuana Dispensary Program by 2016 and dispensaries can begin to dispense medical and manufactured marijuana products as early as July 2016 assuming that the Department of Health grants approval to these dispensaries. [3]

To address legal acquisition of cannabis, in 2016 Senate Bill 321 established a dispensary system, allowing eight dispensaries in the state, designated by island. [4] In August 2017, the first legal medical cannabis dispensary sale was made in Maui. [5]

Industrial hemp (2016)

In July 2016, Governor David Ige signed Act 228, creating a pilot program allowing the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to oversee the cultivation of industrial hemp for agricultural or academic research. [6]

In February 2017, the Hawaii House of Representatives Agricultural Committee passed legislation to remove criminal or civil sanctions for the "planting, growing, harvesting, possessing, processing, selling, or buying" of industrial hemp. [7]

Failed legalization attempt (2019)

In February 2019, a bill was introduced to legalize recreational marijuana for adults 21 and over, however, it died in the House of Representatives the following month. [8] [9]

Decriminalization (2020)

On July 1, 2019, Governor David Ige announced that he would let a legislature-passed bill to decriminalize small amounts of cannabis become law without him actually signing it. Beginning on January 11, 2020, this bill made possession of three grams or less of marijuana punishable by a $130 fine. Under the former law, possessing even a tiny amount of cannabis was punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. [10]

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In the United States, increased restrictions and labeling of cannabis as a poison began in many states from 1906 onward, and outright prohibitions began in the 1920s. By the mid-1930s cannabis was regulated as a drug in every state, including 35 states that adopted the Uniform State Narcotic Drug Act. The first national regulation was the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Oregon</span>

Cannabis in Oregon is legal for both medical and recreational use. In recent decades, the U.S. state of Oregon has had a number of legislative, legal, and cultural events surrounding use of cannabis. Oregon was the first state to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of cannabis, and among the first to authorize its use for medical purposes. An attempt to recriminalize possession of small amounts of cannabis was turned down by Oregon voters in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Colorado</span>

In Colorado, cannabis has been legal for medical use since 2000 and for recreational use since late 2012. On November 7, 2000, 54% of Colorado voters approved Amendment 20, which amended the State Constitution to allow the use of marijuana in the state for approved patients with written medical consent. Under this law, patients may possess up to 2 ounces (57 g) of medical marijuana and may cultivate no more than six marijuana plants. Patients who were caught with more than this in their possession could argue "affirmative defense of medical necessity" but were not protected under state law with the rights of those who stayed within the guidelines set forth by the state. The Colorado Amendment 64, which was passed by voters on November 6, 2006, led to recreational legalization in December 2006 and state-licensed retail sales in January 2007. The policy has led to cannabis tourism. There are two sets of policies in Colorado relating to cannabis use: those for medicinal cannabis and for recreational drug use along with a third set of rules governing hemp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction</span>

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The legal history of cannabis in the United States began with state-level prohibition in the early 20th century, with the first major federal limitations occurring in 1937. Starting with Oregon in 1973, individual states began to liberalize cannabis laws through decriminalization. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis, sparking a trend that spread to a majority of states by 2016. In 2012, Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize cannabis for recreational use.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Iowa</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Virginia</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in New Mexico</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Maryland</span>

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Cannabis in Ohio is legal for recreational use. Issue 2, a ballot measure to legalize recreational use, passed by a 57–43 margin on November 7, 2023. Possession and personal cultivation of cannabis became legal on December 7, 2023, with the first licensed sales yet to occur under the law. Prior to legalization, Ohio decriminalized possession of up 100 grams in 1975, with several of the state's major cities later enacting further reforms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Washington (state)</span>

Cannabis in Washington relates to a number of legislative, legal, and cultural events surrounding the use of cannabis. On December 6, 2012, Washington became the first U.S. state to legalize recreational use of marijuana and the first to allow recreational marijuana sales, alongside Colorado. The state had previously legalized medical marijuana in 1998. Under state law, cannabis is legal for medical purposes and for any purpose by adults over 21.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Michigan</span>

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References

  1. "Hawaii Becomes First State to Approve Medical Marijuana Bill". The New York Times. Associated Press. June 15, 2000. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  2. health.hawaii.gov
  3. 1 2 "Medical Marijuana Program". health.hawaii.gov. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  4. Jen Russo (July 9, 2015). "What you need to know about Hawaii's New Medical Marijuana Law". Maui Time. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  5. Hawaii’s first legal marijuana sale takes place on Maui
  6. Gallagher, Kathleen (July 7, 2016). "Ige gives go-ahead to industrial hemp pilot program". Pacific Business News. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  7. "Hawaii Committee Passes Bill to Legalize Industrial Hemp". Tenth Amendment Center Blog. February 16, 2017.
  8. Hughes, Calvin (March 2, 2019). "Recreational Cannabis Legalization Dies in Hawaii Once Again". Civilized. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  9. "Hawaii decides again not to legalize marijuana". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Associated Press. March 3, 2019. Archived from the original on March 3, 2019. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  10. Jaeger, Kyle (January 11, 2020). "Hawaii's Marijuana Decriminalization Law Is Officially In Effect". Marijuana Moment. Retrieved March 26, 2021.