HCR 228 Summary

• Urges the Governor to convene a task force to study the effects of state legalization of cannabis for adult recreational use

• Task force membership to include the Lieutenant Governor, Directors of Health, Taxation, and Public Safety, all four county Mayors, Honolulu Liquor Commission Administrator, and representatives from the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii and Hawaii Citizens for Legal Cannabis

• Task force directed to study advantages and disadvantages of legalization, tax revenues realized, impacts on judicial and correctional systems, and financial and enforcement impacts on non-legalized states

• States that have legalized recreational cannabis generated approximately $655,000,000 in combined state tax revenue in 2017, and visitors from legalized states account for approximately one-third of Hawaii's annual visitors

• Task force required to report findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days before the 2019 Regular Session begins