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NEW REACTION ON STATE’S PUSH TO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA

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Community leaders and law enforcement officials from across the state take a
unified stand against efforts to legalize recreational marijuana.
By Jolanie Martinez
Published: Feb. 7, 2024 at 7:17 PM HST
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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Community leaders and law enforcement officials from
across the state take a unified stand against efforts to legalize recreational
marijuana.

Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm said two bills intended to legalize recreational
marijuana would not get rid of the black market.

“We’re looking at what Marijuana is today, and it is nothing like it is today,”
said Alm. “And in fact, states that have legalized have a bigger black market
because you’re gonna get more users.”

The pushback comes a day after Gov. Josh Green, who’s also a physician, said he
would approve the drug for adult use as a lesser evil than cocaine and meth.



“I also have some thoughts that marijuana might blunt the effect, if you will,
of people on these heavy drugs, these horrible drugs, it is a relative sedative,
people are far less violent, they are much hungrier,” said Green. “But they,
aside from the snacking and stealing Cheetos, will probably do less harm.”

However, the CDC said three out of 10 people who use marijuana will develop a
disorder.

And the health aspects are only part of the equation.

Today, a broad range of state and county leaders took a stand against
legalization, including the police chiefs of Maui and Kauai counties who worked
in Nevada when cannabis became legal there seven years ago.



“During our law enforcement careers in Las Vegas, Chief Pelletier and I
witnessed firsthand how criminals exploited marijuana legalization to expand
their criminal enterprises,” said Kauai Police Chief Todd Raybuck.

“You will have violent crime more than you have now, you will have homeless more
than you have now,” said Maui Police Chief John Pelletier. “You are not prepared
to do this.”

Former governor Linda Lingle feels so strongly about the issue that she spoke
publicly on Wednesday for the first time in 14 years.

“The bottom line is it’s a risk we just can’t take,” said Lingle. “We have big
issues to solve here.”



“This would make those big issues almost impossible to ever solve.”

However, those in the marijuana industry said the issues are all solvable, and
legalization isn’t as scary as it may appear.

Supporters include The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii.


Advocates say it's a far less dangerous drug that needs to be destigmatized, and
the state is missing out on an opportunity for economic benefits.


“Adult use cannabis legalization also has great upside potential for creating an
economy that, that where Hawaii will have significant advantages,” said Nikos
Leverenz of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii.

“And so, it’s really about a balance of harm, and how do we reduce the issues
that face children?” said Ty Cheng, President of Aloha Green Apothecary. “By
legalizing and putting strict rules in place and good regulation, we have a much
better chance of protecting public safety.”

A joint legislative hearing for the bill is set for 9 a.m. next week on Tuesday
at the Capitol.

Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

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