Hawaii joins four other states this week in a bid to legalize, tax and regulate the sale of cannabis. State Speaker of the House Joseph Souki introduced House Bill 150 which would make possession of up to an ounce of weed fair game for adults over 21 and regulate cultivation and distribution through retail stores much like alcohol.
According to recent polling, 57 precent of the population is down with the measure, and 39 are no-fun, tax-revenue-hating nay-sayers.
Among the states pursuing similar measures are Maine, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. NORML reports, albeit optimistically, “It is no longer a question of if these states will join Colorado and Washington in adopting new and sensible marijuana laws, but which one will do it first.”
