COM 0193.097 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 1, 2007 Hawaii Could Reap $33 Million by Ending Marijuana Prohibition Page 2 "The first step toward these savings is ending criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana," Lichty said. Senate Bill 1296 and House Bill 1711 now before the State Legislature would make possession of less than one ounce of marijuana a civil violation rather than a criminal one. "That would save state and county governments about $5 million each year, and help deal with serious drug issues such as crystal methamphetamine," Lichty said. Currently, thirteen states and five nations have abolished criminal penalties for adults possessing marijuana. Research on the effects of decriminalization overwhelmingly has found that lessening or eliminating criminal penalties had no real effect on marijuana use. Public opinion in Hawaii supports key arguments for decriminalizing marijuana. Most recent data from 2004 shows that 60 percent strongly feel that adults should not go to jail for possessing marijuana for personal use. The same percentage, 60 percent, believed that the decades-long "war on drugs" is a failure. And a strong majority (56 percent) said that Hawai'i's seven-year old medical marijuana law makes it more likely to support a taxation and regulation policy for marijuana. The poll was conducted by QMark Research and Polling among 501 adults statewide for the Drug Policy Action Group, a sister organization of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii. The Boyd report provides additional data supporting a nationwide study by a Harvard University economist, Dr. Jeffrey Miron. That report estimated savings of up to $14 billion from replacing policies of marijuana prohibition. In response more than 500 economists, including several Nobel Laureates, called for "an open and honest debate about marijuana prohibition "adding, "We believe such a debate will favor a regime in which marijuana is legal but taxed and regulated like other goods "Three of those economists are from Hawaii institutions: David Hammes, professor of economics, University of Hawaii-Hilo; Gerard Russo, associate professor of economics, University of Hawaii-Manoa; and Ken Schoolland, associate professor of economics and political science, Hawaii Pacific University. Dr. Miron's report and the economists call can be found at http:/Nvww.prohibitioncosts.org/. Officials of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii are available to comment on Dr. Boyd's economic analysis. Please contact President Pam Lichty at (808) 224-3056 for additional background and comment. The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii is anon-profit organization founded in 1993 to encourage the development of effective drug policies that minimize economic, social, and human costs, and to promote the consideration of pragmatic approaches to drug policy. For more information, including the Forum's publication, °The Medical Use of Marijuana: A Guide to Hawai'i's law for physicians, patients, and caregivers," call 988-4386, or visit our website at www.dpfhi.org.