Two Hawaii House of Representatives legislative committees on Tuesday approved a bill to legalize recreational cannabis at a joint legislative hearing on the proposal. The measure, HB 1246 from Democratic Rep. David Tarnas, would also bring the regulation of hemp, medical marijuana and recreational cannabis under one new state agency, the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office.
“This is a one-plant approach so that it would under this office regulate medical cannabis, adult-use cannabis and hemp products that are for consumption or use on the skin by humans. It would not include industrial hemp for construction or for cloth,” Tarnas said at Tuesday’s hearing.
The Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and the Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems both voted to advance the bill, by a vote of 6–4 and 5–0, respectively. A companion measure, SB 1613, is pending in the Hawaii Senate.
If passed by the legislature and signed into law by Democratic Gov. Josh Green, the bill would legalize the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and up to five grams of cannabis concentrates for adults aged 21 and older, beginning on January 1, 2026. The legislation also legalizes the limited home cultivation of cannabis plants for personal use, online cannabis news source Marijuana Moment reported on Tuesday.
Tarnas, the chair the Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee, noted that the legislation includes “protections against the multi-state operators from coming into Hawaii” so that local businesses reap the economic benefits of legalization.
“The bill includes a five-year residency requirement, which will limit who can be licensed and prevent these out-of-state corporations from obtaining licenses,” Tarnas said.
The legislation notes that the states that have legalized recreational cannabis “have witnessed substantial benefits from the revenue generated through taxes, including use and licensing fees, as well as general excise and sales taxes on the non-medical adult-use cannabis industry,” according to a report from Honolulu Civil Beat.
