STAND. COM. REP. NO. 197
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2009
RE: H.B. No. 1192
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Fifth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2009
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Public Safety and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1192 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MARIJUANA,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to decriminalize the possession of less than one ounce of marijuana by making it a civil offense punishable by a civil fine of $100 and forfeiture of the marijuana. In addition, persons under eighteen years of age would also be required to complete a drug awareness program or face a $1,000 civil fine.
Currently, the penalty for knowingly possessing less than one ounce of marijuana is a petty misdemeanor offense, promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree.
The Drug Policy Forum, American Civil Liberties Union, Americans for Safe Access, Big Island Chapter, Community Alliance on Prisons, and numerous individuals testified in support of this bill. The Department of the Attorney General, City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Maui Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, Honolulu Police Department, County of Maui Police Department, and County of Hawaii Police Department opposed this measure. The Department of Public Safety, Office of Youth Services, Hepatitis Support Network Hawaii, and Drug Policy Action Group offered comments.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1192 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Human Services,
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____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair |
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____________________________ FAYE HANOHANO, Chair |
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