S.C.R. 55 Summary

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

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

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

• Notes eight states have legalized adult recreational cannabis, generating approximately $655,000,000 in combined state tax revenue in 2017, and approximately one-third of Hawaii's 8.9 million annual visitors come from legalized cannabis states.

• Task force to report findings and recommendations to the legislature no later than twenty days before the 2019 Regular Session convenes.