Hawaii’s Pot Decriminalization Takes Effect Jan. 11

Just in time for the weekend, Hawaii’s new law on pakalolo goes into effect Saturday.

Act 273 decriminalizes the possession of 3 grams or less of marijuana and sets up a monetary fine of $130.

It also provides for the expungement of criminal records “pertaining solely” to the possession of 3 grams or less of pot.

Lemon Tree strain marijuana plants in a grow room in San Jose, California, in 2018. Hawaii is set to decriminalize small amounts of pot beginning Jan. 11.

Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat

And it calls for a marijuana evaluation task force to make recommendations on changing marijuana use penalties and outcomes in the state.

Hawaii is now part of a national trend regarding cannabis, which remains a Schedule I drug at the federal level along with heroin, peyote, LSD and ecstasy.

“Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia have decriminalized offenses pertaining to certain amounts of marijuana, and 10 states and the District of Columbia have legalized certain amounts of marijuana for non-medical use,” the act explains.

Gov. David Ige last year let the bill become law without his signature.

Three grams works out to a little over one teaspoon, by the way.

Before you go . . .

During a crisis like this, it’s more important than ever to dig beyond the news, to figure out what government policies mean for ordinary citizens and how those policies were put together.

For the first time, Civil Beat has become a seven-days-per-week news operation, publishing new stories and a new edition each Saturday and Sunday as well as weekdays.

This is perhaps the biggest, most consequential story our reporters will ever cover. And at no other time in Civil Beat’s history have we relied on your support more. Please consider supporting Civil Beat by making a tax-deductible gift.

Contribute