RES 673 Draft 01 2014-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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J�SV Gi~...'. COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII A ; RESOLUTION NO. 673 16 A RESOLUTION URGING THE 2017 HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE TO PASS LEGISLATION TO DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA. WHEREAS, many states, including Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi,Nebraska,Nevada,New York,North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, and Washington, have decriminalized marijuana in small amounts; and WHEREAS, most states that have decriminalized marijuana provide for civil fines, confiscation, drug education, or drug treatment in place of incarceration or criminal charges for possession of small amounts of marijuana or have made various marijuana offenses the lowest priority for law enforcement; and WHEREAS, according to a CNN report on October 18, 2010, former United States Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders stated that she supports legalizing marijuana; and WHEREAS, Chapter 329, Part IX, Hawai`i Revised Statutes, was enacted pursuant to Act 228, Session Laws of Hawai`i 2000, to exempt the medical use of marijuana from criminal sanctions; and WHEREAS, in November 2008 Hawai`i County voters approved Ordinance No. 08-181, known as the "Lowest Law Enforcement Priority of Cannabis Ordinance"; and WHEREAS, Section 14-99(a) of the Hawaii County Code states "The cultivation, possession and use for adult personal use of cannabis shall be the Lowest Law Enforcement Priority for law enforcement agencies in the county."; and WHEREAS, currently the possession of less than one ounce of marijuana for non- medical purposes is classified as a petty misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and up to a$1,000 fine; and WHEREAS, previously proposed legislation such as Senate Bill No. 472, SD1 (2013 Legislative Session), sought to establish possession of marijuana of one ounce or less as a civil violation that is subject to a fine; now, therefore,