Hawai’i Legislature could send legalization to voters!

A new proposal backed by the Hawai'i Alliance for Cannabis Reform is making waves. Rep. David Tarnas and Sen. Joy San Buenaventura have introduced bills to refer a state constitutional amendment (“ConAm”) on cannabis legalization to voters! 

If you live in Hawai'i, ask your state legislators to support the cannabis legalization ConAm — HB 1624 and SB 2420.

Hawai’i has considered legalization bills for years, but they have never made it past the finish line. While we’d prefer the legislature legalize cannabis outright, it’s been unwilling or unable to do so. It’s time to give voters a chance to stop punishing adults for relaxing with cannabis.

Both Maryland and New Jersey lawmakers took this path after failing to reach consensus on legalization bills. Like Hawai’i, neither state has a citizen initiative process. But both states allow legislators to refer constitutional amendments to voters. 

In both states, voters approved the simple constitutional amendments by a landslide — over two-thirds of the popular vote. Also in both cases, the constitutional amendments left the details of how to regulate cannabis sales to legislators in implementation bills that passed shortly afterwards, as HB 1624 and SB 2420 do. 

Polls show Hawai’i voters support legalization. If legislators won’t act, voters deserve a chance to expand their constitutional liberty and privacy rights themselves.