For at least the tenth consecutive year, the effort to legalize marijuana has failed in Democratic-controlled Hawaii yet again. A coalition of public health and safety, and faith leaders led the effort, including Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action (SAM) Hawaii partners.
“The defeat of this bill is a resounding victory for public health and safety,” said SAM CEO and President Dr. Kevin Sabet, a former senior drug policy advisor in the Obama White House. “Hawaii is now the latest state to reject the legalization and commercialization of marijuana, joining Oklahoma, Arkansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota in putting public health before private profits.”
Despite promises by the industry and pro-marijuana politicians, SB 669 failed to receive a hearing in the state house, taking a back seat to other more urgent priorities by the legislature.
Greg Tjapkes, the Executive Director of Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii, added: “After decriminalization, there’s simply no compelling, logical or reasonable argument for the commercialization of cannabis considering the public safely, administrative, and human costs, which the legislature has failed to take into account, and would vastly outweigh any financial gains.”
Sabet continued: “Hawaii was one of the first states SAM worked in to stop legalization 10 years ago, and we are honored to have remained by their side in this fight ever since. This year, legalization simply lacked the support needed to get across the finish line. The people of Hawaii have seen the unintended consequences of legalization in other states, ranging from increased traffic crashes from marijuana-impaired drivers to more hospitalizations and the overwhelming influence of addiction-for-profit corporations.
“In rejecting legalization, Hawaii legislators are not only on the side of science, but they’ve rejected corporate influence in their state. We are honored to have been a part of the discussion and applaud Hawaii lawmakers for taking this stand.”
Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action
The only way you can get marijuana legal in this state is when the profit picture goes from law enforcement and incarceration to a free market enterprise.
Which makes me wonder why a dozen or so high ranking law enforcement/incarceration officers have not gotten together and realized that they could control the market and make tons of money more.