HI SR26

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

Task force membership includes the Lieutenant Governor, Directors of Health, Taxation, and Public Safety, 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 projected and realized, impacts on judicial and correctional systems, and financial impacts on states without legalization.

Eight states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Washington) have legalized adult recreational cannabis, generating approximately $655,000,000 in combined state tax revenue in 2017.

Task force must report findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2019 Regular Session begins.