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COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII
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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,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that the
2017 Hawai`i State Legislature is hereby urged to pass legislation to decriminalize marijuana by:
(1) Establishing possession of marijuana of one ounce or less as a civil violation;
(2) Directing that violations be punishable by fines and or community service; and
(3) Directing that civil fines and penalties for violations be deposited by the State
Director of Finance to the credit of the State general fund.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall forward copies of this
resolution to the Honorable Governor David Y. Ige, all Hawai`i State Senators and
Representatives, and the Mayors of the Counties of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, and the City and
County of Honolulu.
Dated at Hilo , Hawai`i, this 2nd day of November , 2016.
INTRODUCED BY:
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COCIL II,EMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawai`i AYES NOES ABS I:X
Hilo, Hawai`i CHUNG X
DAVID X
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by EOFF X
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the ILAGAN
County of I Iawai`i on November 2, 2016 X —
KANUHA X
ONISHI X
ATTEST: PALEKA X
POINDEXTER X
WILLE X
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Reference: C-1094/GREDC-10
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. 673 16
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