HI HCR127

Requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to study the potential impact of decriminalizing illegal possession of drugs for personal use in Hawaii's administrative and judicial systems.

Study must survey all existing Hawaii criminal drug offenses that are class C felonies or lower pertaining to possession of harmful drugs, detrimental drugs, marijuana, or marijuana concentrate.

Study must review Portugal's national drug policy on illegal drug possession for personal use as a potential decriminalization model, where drug possession violations are treated as administrative rather than criminal matters.

Study must analyze potential impacts on state government administrative and judicial systems if certain or all identified drug possession offenses were converted from criminal to administrative or civil violations.

Legislative Reference Bureau must submit written findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2017 Regular Session; Judiciary and Department of Public Safety requested to provide relevant statistics.