LIHUE — Last week, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii sent a one-question email survey to over 300 candidates for elective office in Hawaii to determine their position on whether the Aloha State should legalize cannabis for adult use.
The list includes those running for Hawaii governor, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, Hawaii House of Representatives, Hawaii Senate, Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees, and city and county councils.
The survey notes that the Democratic Party of Hawaii platform formally endorses the legalization of adult-use cannabis. The question: “Do you support the position of the Democratic Party of Hawaii regarding the legalization and regulation of adult-use cannabis? The party platform lists among its legislative priorities: ‘legalize recreational cannabis.’ The platform also highlights this issue as an integral component of criminal justice and drug policy reform.” Respondents are asked to “agree” or “disagree,” with space provided for additional comments.
Nine states, including Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington and Alaska, have legalized adult-use cannabis. Earlier this month, the New York Department of Health issued a report to Gov. Mario Cuomo recommending the legalization of adult-use cannabis. Cannabis possession of less than one ounce is classified as a misdemeanor under Hawaii law. The most recent crime report issued by the state Attorney General disclosed that 7,863 Hawaii adults were arrested for cannabis possession over the past 10 years.
Even in the absence of incarceration, misdemeanor convictions provide entry into the criminal justice system and can have dramatic, long-term consequences for individuals and families. The Council of State Governments Justice Center provides a list of over 100 “collateral consequences” of a misdemeanor conviction in Hawaii.
“The continued criminalization of cannabis reflects a politically-driven disregard for individual freedom and an overly punitive policy approach that unjustifiably stigmatizes one class of substance users more than others on the basis of long-standing social and legal biases,” said Nikos Leverenz, DPFH Board President.
Scores of candidates have responded as of July 25. DPFH will issue a final reminder email via SurveyMonkey to those who didn’t respond. Follow-up calls to non-responsive campaign offices will be made early next week. Final survey results will be made publicly available on Aug. 6.
Kauai Electric lives on! 😉
Aloha Kakou,
Nothing wrong with Cocaine: it just ruins your family and financial life, like job and marriage, and your health.
Nothing wrong with Heroin, it just slows you down and life passes you by and you lose your job and family.
Nothing wrong with Alcohol, it just causes liver failure, accelerates aging, loss of energy and hangovers, and highway fatalities.
Nothing wrong with tobacco, it just causes heart disease and lung cancer and stinky breath and clothing and hair and bedroom fires.
Nothing wrong with marijuana, pakalolo, pot, and weed, it just makes ya STUPID…! ! !
Mahalo,
Charlie