LIHU‘E — The chair of the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday killed a proposal that would have legalized marijuana in Hawai‘i — and taxed it heavily — for recreational use for people aged 21 and older. Rep. Derek Kawakami, D-14th
LIHU‘E — The chair of the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday killed a proposal that would have legalized marijuana in Hawai‘i — and taxed it heavily — for recreational use for people aged 21 and older.
Rep. Derek Kawakami, D-14th District, one of the 11 co-introducers of House Bill 699, said he was looking forward to having an open discussion. But Judiciary Committee Chair Karl Rhoads’ decision to defer the bill, even tough it had enough votes to pass the committee, effectively killed it for this session.
“There are pros and cons with this legislation … that deserves to go through the democratic process,” said Kawakami, adding that such process would be allowing it to progress to the Finance Committee to have it further vetted, thus adding more voices to the discussion.
“I’m somewhat disappointed we weren’t able to have further discussion,” said Kawakami, adding that it’s still early in this year’s legislative session.
He said there were some members of the community who spoke in support of legalizing marijuana, arguing the current law is outdated, that it would be better to regulate and tax marijuana to keep it out of children’s hands. On the flipside, he said, there were others who were concerned with social ills that could perhaps come with marijuana use.
In Hawai‘i, it is legal to use or grow medical marijuana. This bill would have legalized use for anyone who is 21 years of age or older, and it would have applied similar restrictions that alcohol has, including sales to underage individuals and driving under the influence of marijuana.
The bill also proposed to legitimatize and tax businesses, and add labeling to marijuana products.
“There shall be an excise tax at a rate of 15 percent to be levied upon the proceeds of marijuana sold or otherwise transferred by a marijuana cultivation facility to a marijuana product manufacturing facility or to a retail marijuana store,” the bill states.
Rhoads’ decision to kill the bill came despite the fact there was enough support within the committee to move it forward, according to Kawakami. But Rhoads opted to kill it because the House leadership had indicated there wasn’t enough support in the House to pass the bill, said the representative of the North Shore and Eastside.
In the state Legislature, chairpersons of committees have a “tremendous amount of latitude” as far as what bills they decide to hear and what decisions are being made as far as deferring or amending bills, Kawakami said.
“We are dealing with almost 3,000 bills,” he added. “The chairs have to practice discretion as to what bills they want to hear; and if they do hear them, what bills they decide to move forward.”
Kawakami said it is not a perfect system, and that’s why it is very important that when leadership of the House organizes, they put the right people in the right positions, even regarding the distribution of committee members.
“This is a new leadership team, and we are learning as we go along as well,” he said.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@ thegardenisland.com.
