Pubdate: Thu, 04 Apr 2013
Source: Honolulu Star-Advertiser (HI)
Copyright: 2013 Star Advertiser
Contact: 
http://www.staradvertiser.com/info/Star-Advertiser_Letter_to_the_Editor.html
Website: http://www.staradvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5154
Author: Derrick Depledge
Page: A1

HOUSE ABANDONS BILL TO DECRIMINALIZE POT

The state House on Wednesday discarded a bill that would have 
decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana after 
House leaders concluded they lacked the votes to advance the legislation.

The bill would have made the possession of up to 20 grams of 
marijuana - less than an ounce - a civil penalty that would have 
drawn a $100 fine.

Drug policy analysts and civil liberties advocates say that criminal 
penalties for small amounts of marijuana unnecessarily burden the 
criminal justice system and stigmatize casual marijuana users. But 
state and county prosecutors and police oppose decriminalization 
because of the social costs of drug abuse.

The Senate has favored decriminalization, but the House, until this 
session, had not seriously considered the idea.

"It's an issue that needs to be vetted," said House Majority Leader 
Scott Saiki (D, Downtown-Kakaako-McCully). "And I think it will 
evolve over time. And one day this bill will pass and become law. It 
may just not be the right time."

The sponsor of the bill, Sen. J. Kalani English (D, 
Molokai-Lanai-Upcountry Maui-Hana), agreed.

"It's just a matter of time that we're going to deal with this 
issue," he said, adding that the Senate has supported 
decriminalization as well as marijuana dispensaries - what senators 
called "compassion centers" - so medical marijuana patients can more 
easily obtain the drug.

Hawaii is one of 18 states and the District of Columbia that have 
legalized marijuana for medicinal use. Two states - Colorado and 
Washington state - have legalized marijuana possession in small 
amounts through voter-approved ballot initiatives.

House leaders shelved a bill earlier this session that would have 
legalized marijuana in small amounts because of a lack of votes among 
majority Democrats.

Sen. Clayton Hee (D, Heeia-Laie-Waialua), the chairman of the Senate 
Judiciary and Labor Committee, had moved Senate Bill 472 with a civil 
fine of $1,000 for the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. The 
steep fine was meant as an incentive for the House to take up the 
bill. The criminal penalty for a similar possession offense is now 
$1,000 with the potential for 30 days in jail, although senators were 
told that the courts typically impose $100 fines.

Hee said the Senate tried to give the House "as much discretion and 
latitude as possible, but evidently not enough discretion and latitude."

Rep. Karl Rhoads (D, Chinatown-Iwilei-Kalihi), chairman of the House 
Judiciary Committee, changed the bill to lower the permissible amount 
to 20 grams and to make clear that possession would still be a petty 
misdemeanor for minors. He also put the civil fine at $100.

House Democrats discussed the bill in private caucus on Tuesday and 
Wednesday before announcing that it was being sent back to the House 
Judiciary Committee, essentially killing the legislation for the session.

Rep. Marcus Oshiro (D, Wahiawa-Whitmore Poamoho), who opposed the 
bill, said Hawaii should study how Colorado and Washington state 
implement marijuana legalization, since the drug remains illegal 
under federal law. He said he was not comfortable with 
decriminalizing up to 20 grams of marijuana - or 47 to 50 joints - 
because of the potential for increased exposure to young people.

"We don't have to be the ones to be first in line, spending enormous 
time, energy and money, and exposure of our young people in this 
untested area," Oshiro said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom