Our criminal legal system continues to adversely impact far too many families and those with behavioral health issues.
By Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Jeanné Kapela, Nikos Leverenz
December 20, 2023 · 6 min read
Last month Ohio voters approved a measure by a wide margin to have the Buckeye State join 23 other states and the District of Columbia that have legalized adult-use cannabis.
In the coming weeks and months, Hawaii’s Legislature will have the opportunity to assess a draft legalization bill offered by Attorney General Anne Lopez and offer measures of its own. One poll found last year that a significant majority of Hawaii residents support legalizing cannabis for recreational use, representing an ongoing shift in opinion toward ending cannabis prohibition.
In 2021, the Maui County Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the legalization, regulation and taxation of cannabis for responsible adult use. Among the council’s recommendations were “equitable ownership and employment opportunities in a legal cannabis industry,” the expungement of cannabis convictions, and “investment in non-punitive programs and community-based services.”
