HI HR87

Requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study summarizing published reports on marijuana legalization effects in Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

Study must evaluate economic costs and benefits, crime statistics before and after legalization, and relevant positive and negative effects of non-medical marijuana legalization.

Findings must be submitted to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2020.

Cites 2017 data showing 22.1 percent of adults aged 18-25 and 7.9 percent of adults aged 26+ used marijuana in the preceding month despite criminal penalties.

Notes Hawaii currently permits medical cannabis but maintains criminal penalties for non-medical marijuana possession under state and federal law.