Hawaii Senate Passes Bill to Legalize Cannabis for Adults

The Hawai’i Attorney General’s office drafted SB 3335, which would legalize and regulate cannabis for adults 21 and older.

The AG’s office shifted its position on legalization from opposed to neither opposed nor supportive of that bill. The bill has some positive features, including legalization, the inclusion of home cultivation and a social equity program; however, the Hawaii Alliance For Cannabis Reform (HACR) has concerns that the bill is overly focused on ramping up law enforcement and re-criminalizing innocuous conduct, and has far too little focus on equity.

Senate committees amended the bill and addressed some of our concerns. However, changes are still needed to ensure it is rooted in equity and justice instead of an overly punitive approach that excessively ramps up law enforcement.

Key provisions of the bill:

• Beginning January 1, 2026, the bill would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of cannabis and five grams of concentrates, and cultivate up to six plants and to store up to 10 ounces of cannabis at home.
• Personal cultivation may only occur in a secured place, not easily accessible to those under 21, and cannot be visible to the public without the use of technology. Is only allowed at one’s private residence, which does not include federal public housing, shelters, on-campus housing, and commercial housing. And regardless of the number of adults living in a residence, the total limit per residence is 10 plants and two pounds of harvested cannabis.

View the entire bill here