The effort to pass a marijuana legalization bill in Hawaii this year ended on Tuesday afternoon. In a statement, Rep. Kyle Yamashita (D), who chairs the House Finance Committee announced that his panel would not hear the legalization measure, SB 3335, ahead of a legislative deadline this week.
The decision effectively kills bill, which had already passed the full Senate and several House committees this session before only barely advancing in an initial House floor vote earlier this month.
“The path to legalizing adult-use cannabis has been a deeply divisive issue,” Yamashita said. “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.”
Democratic House Speaker Scott Saiki, meanwhile, pointed to “serious concerns by members of Hawai’i’s law enforcement.”
“This bill requires further consideration of the impact legislation will have on our children, economy, and overall well-being.”
As supporters and opponents have both pointed out, this past session has marked the furthest any legalization measure has made it through Hawaii’s legislature. But after only barely passing a House floor vote late
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