Hawaii Legalizes Recreational Marihuana. 25th State in Nation

Many people in the USA, as well as Hawai’i, aren’t aware that recreational marihuana (marijuana, pot, weed or pakalolo in Hawai’i) is legal in practice in the aloha state. Professionals prefer to use the scientific label cannabis. Most Native Hawaiians use pakalolo. It’s part of their indigenous culture.

UPDATE 4.3.24: Kyle Yamashita Stalls Recreational Cannabis Legalization
As CHL has warned, Japanese interests in Hawai’i oppose cannabis legalization. Public health professionals and criminal justice reformers who have worked for years appear close to losing once again. Latest effort to legalize recreational cannabis for adults appears dead once again after House Finance Chair Kyle Yamashita declined to hold a vote on Senate Bill 3335.

NOTE: Rep Yamashita claims to support legalization. CHL therefore does not blame him personally for the stalled legalization effort. If a FIN hearing was called, we expect his YES vote. Yamashita is however chair. As chair he has a duty to ensure The People’s voices are heard. Opponents are given more weight than the majority. Who is bullying this committee and denying an Up or Down House vote?

Members on the Finance committee claimed they were going to vote 10 NO vs 6 YES. Yamashita promised a YES, yet refused to hold a hearing believing it would be of waste time. The People want a full hearing. We demand accountability. Opponents have wasted everyone’s time since 2015.

If these TEN can’t find a way to reform, The People can hire TEN more in November. Seven Democrats VOTED NO (below). Frauds! Democrats support cannabis legalization. President Joe Biden, VP Kamala Harris, Gov Josh Green support cannabis legalization. Who are these DINO imposters? Need to be expelled from the party. Hawai’i permits a woman to kill her developing baby. Can’t puff pakalolo. Not aloha, folks!

REPRESENTATIVE ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT (D) [link]
repgarrett@capitol.hawaii.gov
REPRESENTATIVE DARIUS K. KILA (D) [link]
repkila@capitol.hawaii.gov
REPRESENTATIVE BERTRAND KOBAYASHI (D) [link]
repkobayashi@capitol.hawaii.gov
REPRESENTATIVE RACHELE F. LAMOSAO (D) [link]
replamosao@capitol.hawaii.gov
REPRESENTATIVE JENNA TAKENOUCHI (D) [link]
reptakenouchi@capitol.hawaii.gov
REPRESENTATIVE MICAH P.K. AIU (D) [link]
repaiu@capitol.hawaii.gov
REPRESENTATIVE CORY M. CHUN (D) [link]
repchun@capitol.hawaii.gov

Please CONTACT Rep Yamashita and POLITELY DEMAND: Let The People vote !!!
Hawai‘i State Capitol, Room 306
Phone: 808-586-6200
Fax: 808-586-6201
repyamashita@capitol.hawaii.gov

“The path to legalizing adult-use cannabis has been a deeply divisive issue. This year marked its furthest progression, with SB 3335 narrowly passing its second reading. Due to numerous concerns regarding the implementation of the bill, the House has decided against further deliberation in the House Finance Committee. This decision is strengthened by the prevailing ‘no’ votes from committee members expressed on the House floor.”

Kyle Yamashita, (D, Pukalani-Makawao-Ulupalakua)

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UPDATE 4.1.24: Germany Legalizes Recreational Cannabis
Germany has 3rd Largest Economy in world, largest in Europe, and recreational cannabis became legal today for adults 18 and older — no fooling! Health minister Karl Lauterbach hailed the move in a post on X on Monday:

“Cannabis use already existed yesterday, but it’s increasing. Now it’s exiting the taboo zone. This is better for real addiction help, prevention for children and young people and for combating the black market, for which there will soon be an alternative.”

Karl Lauterbach, Germany’s Health Minister

Conservative White and Asian officials in Hawai’i want to stop these practices. Drink alcohol instead, most argue. There is no known SAFE amount of alcohol consumption. Why does Hawai’i promote alcohol?

Over 20% of Hawai’i residents are Excessive Drinkers. The state loves the revenue from alcohol sales. Restaurants and business profit heavily by “poisoning” people — alcohol is a poison with NO known health benefits. Cannabis Users on the other hand have BETTER HEALTH than the general population.

Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive, and dependence-producing substance and has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer decades ago – this is the highest risk group, which also includes asbestos, radiation and tobacco. Alcohol causes at least seven types of cancer, including the most common cancer types, such as bowel cancer and female breast cancer. Ethanol (alcohol) causes cancer through biological mechanisms as the compound breaks down in the body, which means that any beverage containing alcohol, regardless of its price and quality, poses a risk of developing cancer.

No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health. WHO [source]

Conservative media Star-Advertiser posted the opinion of Bill Hicks, Kailua, “Hawaii does not possess the infrastructure to cope with the additional strain that increased use of marijuana will clearly create.”

As pointed out in a previous commentary, Denby Fawcett, one spokesperson of the anti-legalization movement, claimed falsely, Hawai’i “allow[s] people 3 grams of weed or about six joints.” She is as clueless about the law as she is about cannabis. Many Very Serious People (VSP) in Hawai’i are similar.

Dimwit Fawcett, as critics refer to her, doesn’t understand why the state is now working to further normalize cannabis when it’s already easily obtainable. She denies that users can be hauled off to prison. Current legislature seeks to change this draconian restriction with SB3335 to regulate and enforce cannabis and taxation of cannabis.

Beginning 1/1/2026, legalizes the personal adult use of cannabis. Establishes taxes on the retail sale of adult-use cannabis and the sale of medical cannabis. Adds new traffic offenses and clarifies existing traffic offenses relating to the consumption or possession of marijuana or marijuana concentrate. 

SB3335 to regulate and enforce cannabis and taxation of cannabis.

If Hawai’i officially legalizes recreational cannabis, the aloha state will join the nations of Canada, Georgia, Germany, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, and Uruguay, plus 24 states, 3 territories, and the District of Columbia in the United States and the Australian Capital Territory in Australia.

Hawai’i will also get serious about cannabis enforcement, as police and officials ignore the illicit practice for the most part today — enriching criminals, drug dealers and cartel associations. Police and law enforcement demanded billions in tax dollars for interdiction. Guess that money went to buy fancy plantation homes, rather than stop trafficking of a controlled substance.

Attorney General Anne Lopez therefore requests 25 specialized Hawai’i 50-type police agents and 15 prosecutors if legalization legislation passes. It’s actually much easier for government in Hawai’i to keep pakalolo illegally legal, which is typical how business is conducted.

Adults currently buy or barter pakalolo from friends, neighborhood dealers or anywhere around Hawai’i beaches. Kids can obtain weed near any public school. Criminals provide pot to anyone in Hawai’i.

Legal Marihuana Purchases

Most shockingly, a friend recently purchased marihuana gummies in the Ala Moana Center, which is the Largest Outdoor Mall in the world. Some 12 MILLION visitors come to Hawai’i each year. Nearly all, as well as their children and teens, will visit the shopping center.

Locals on O’ahu spend significant time and money in the mall. Teens love hanging out in the mall. Surf shops, vape stores, supplement centers offer legal high-grade marihuana in child-friendly and kid-attractive packaging.

No specialized protective packaging. Just tear open the paper container. Looks like any candy or gummy package. Easy to confuse. Easy for a child or pet to get into the supply. Dangerously, 25mg of Delta9 THC will make a child or pet extremely sick. Parents will freak out and call poison control or rush their child or pet to the hospital. They will falsely blame regulated dispensaries. No control or professional oversight in Hawai’i. Hawai’i as why the Most Corrupt State in the nation.

My 71-year-old friend told me one gummy got him “very high.” I’m a medical cannabis patient. Taking 10mg of an edible would be sufficient for me. My uncle takes about 3mg of legal medical cannabis for his pain. This elderly male took 25mg. No doctor or prescription. He doesn’t know what’s in these products. Puts his health at risk believing these products are safe.

Sold in a mall outlet, he thought he was buying a legal, regulated product. Now the world understands how Hawaiian Electric destroyed Lahaina and incinerated at least 101+ human beings, including keiki. Officials are corrupt and incompetent.

Beginning in 2019, we petitioned state senator Rosalyn “Roz” Baker for “regulated” edible medical cannabis products. Senator Baker denied our requests and blocked edibles. She claimed that the risk children and keiki would accidentally consume products was too high (no pun intended).

SEE: Hawai’i Empire Strikes Back Against Medical Cannabis. Senator Roz Baker Gets Revenge

SEE: Hawai’i Senator Roz Baker Supports Killing Babies and Weeds

Senator Baker required patients to SMOKE cannabis, which scientists and medical practitioners claim isn’t healthy. Hawai’i now allows children, teens and keiki to purchase marihuana gummies in the largest outdoor mall in the world, after denying medical patients for years.

Regulated edible cannabis products come in child-proof containers in non-descript and professional medical packaging. Why would Grandma Baker deny safe medication to injured and disabled residents, while allowing keiki to access these products in our largest mall?

Leeward Dream Peach Mango CBN Gummies are “naturally flavored with fruity peach and mango bliss that will put you on cloud nine! CBN is a naturally occurring cannabinoid that is attributed with the ‘sleepy’ feeling in aged cannabis. When combined with the benefits of THC, this gummy works to help the body attain homeostasis and can be of use for those seeking elevation and potentially calming effects.”

Grandmas and Gray Hairs Against Cannabis

Former Senator Baker isn’t the only “elderly” grandma to champion continued criminalization. The anti-marihuana coalition commissioned former Republican governor Linda Lingle from her mothballed position as well. The gray hairs are out in social conservative force in Hawai’i. We do not mean to be disrespectful, but their policies are killing Americans. Enough.is.Enough

Lingle is featured with grandpa Steve Alm, current prosecuting attorney of Honolulu, front page StarAd. Conservative media portrays the two as heroes. Both still seek to put cannabis users in prison; then enjoy a cold beer or yummy glass of red wine! Why are people so cruel to others?

Very Serious People in Hawai’i prefer to drink alcohol. They love beer for sporting events, wine with girlfriends or cocktails after work. They enjoy a fine cigar secretly imported from Cuba and don’t ensure that their keiki are not vaping nicotine between classes. Cannabis however is common with young generations, Black folks and Native Hawaiians. VSP claims compelled to stop the spread of cannabis! Conservative Asians and White people are called to unite !!! Save our children, they say. Their grandchildren laugh at the naïveté, hypocricy and lack of common sense.

Support Reform

For those aware that medical and scientific communities consider cannabis to be “more safe” than alcohol, tobacco or vaped nicotine, please help Hawai’i end this institutional racist policy. The American Heart Association recently found Cannabis Users to be More Healthy than the general population.

The Hawai’i senate passed SB3335 to regulate and enforce cannabis and taxation of cannabis. The House under the intimidating and bullying of Speaker Scott Saiki has blocked reform and progress for years.

You do not need to live in Hawai’i permanently to join this social reform movement. Those hoping to vacation or visit will benefit by reducing crime and supporting honest and regulated businesses.

Assist by calling or emailing one of our House representative and leaving a voicemail or message. SIX KEY representatives are listed below. Lawmakers are waiting to hear from you because most have heard only from elderly and influential VSP who don’t understand legalized cannabis.

Take Action

The following key lawmakers hold the balance of power in the House on this issue. It is better if you are a constituent in their district, and if so, be sure to advise them of such, however all voices matter. Most lawmakers are concerned about re-election chances this November.

Here’s a sample script to follow and insert your own words or beliefs as appropriate.
“Aloha, my name is ________ . I’m calling to urge Rep. ________ to vote “YES” on SB3335 to regulate and enforce cannabis and taxation of cannabis.”

• Rep. Micah Aiu: 808-586-9470 :: repaiu@capitol.hawaii.gov
• Rep. Cory Chun: 808-586-6170 :: repchun@capitol.hawaii.gov
• Rep. Elle Cochran: 808-586-6160 :: repcochran@capitol.hawaii.gov
• Rep. Rachelle Lamosao: 808-586-6520 :: replamosao@capitol.hawaii.gov
• Rep. Jenna Takenouchi: 808-586-9415 :: reptakenouchi@capitol.hawaii.gov
• Rep. Andrew Garret: 808-586-8475 :: repgarrett@capitol.hawaii.gov

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Ko’olau of Kaua’i. I am the Defiant One
“I Believe We Can”