HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
217
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO MARIJUANA.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 712, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"[Underlined: §712- ] [Underlined: Promoting a harmful drug in the fifth degree.] [Underlined: (1) A person commits the offense of promoting a harmful drug in the fifth degree if the person knowingly][Underlined: :]
[Underlined: (a)] [Underlined: Possesses any marijuana concentrate in any amount;]
[Underlined: (b)] [Underlined: Possesses marijuana-infused products containing any amount of tetrahydrocannabinol; or]
[Underlined: (c)] [Underlined: Transfers:]
[Underlined: (i)] [Underlined: Five grams or less of marijuana concentrate; or]
[Underlined: (ii)] [Underlined: Marijuana-infused products containing five hundred milligrams or less of tetrahydrocannabinol, in the aggregate,]
[Underlined: to a person who is twenty-one years of age or older without remuneration.]
[Underlined: (2) Promoting a harmful drug in the fifth degree shall be a petty misdemeanor; provided that:]
[Underlined: (a)] [Underlined: Possession of f][Underlined: ive grams or less of marijuana concentrate;]
[Underlined: (b)] [Underlined: Possession of marijuana-infused products containing five hundred milligrams or less of tetrahydrocannabinol, in the aggregate; or]
[Underlined: (c)] [Underlined: Transfer of:]
[Underlined: (i)] [Underlined: Five grams or less of marijuana concentrate; or]
[Underlined: (ii)] [Underlined: Marijuana-infused products containing five hundred milligrams or less of tetrahydrocannabinol, in the aggregate,]
[Underlined: to a person who is twenty-one years of age or older without remuneration,]
[Underlined: shall be a violation, punishable by a fine of $25. A person found responsible for a violation under this section may request, and shall be granted, a penalty of two hours of community service in lieu of a fine.]
[Underlined: (3) For purposes of this section, a transfer of marijuana concentrate ][Underlined: or marijuana-infused products][Underlined: shall be considered for remuneration if:]
[Underlined: (a)] [Underlined: The marijuana concentrate or marijuana-infused products is given away contemporaneously with another transaction between the same parties;]
[Underlined: (b)] [Underlined: A gift of marijuana concentrate or marijuana-infused products is offered or advertised in conjunction with an offer for sale of goods, services, or admission to an event; or]
[Underlined: (c)] [Underlined: A gift of marijuana concentrate or marijuana-infused products is contingent upon a separate transaction for goods, services, or the price of admission to an event.]"
SECTION 2. Section 329-43.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§329-43.5 Prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia. (a) Except as provided in [[Struck through: subsection]] [Underlined: subsections] (e)[[Struck through: ,]] [Underlined: and (f),] it [[Struck through: is]] [Underlined: shall be] unlawful for any person to use, or to possess with intent to use, drug paraphernalia to plant, propagate, cultivate, grow, harvest, manufacture, compound, convert, produce, process, prepare, test, analyze, pack, repack, store, contain, conceal, inject, ingest, inhale, or otherwise introduce into the human body a controlled substance in violation of this chapter. A violation of this subsection shall constitute a violation subject to a fine of no more than $500.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (e), it [[Struck through: is]] [Underlined: shall be] unlawful for any person to deliver, possess with intent to deliver, or manufacture with intent to deliver drug paraphernalia, knowing or under circumstances where one reasonably should know, that it will be used to plant, propagate, cultivate, grow, harvest, manufacture, compound, convert, produce, process, prepare, test, analyze, pack, repack, store, contain, conceal, inject, ingest, inhale, or otherwise introduce into the human body a controlled substance in violation of this chapter. A violation of this subsection shall constitute a violation subject to a fine of no more than $500.
(c) Any person eighteen years of age or [[Struck through: over]] [Underlined: older] who violates subsection (b) by delivering drug paraphernalia to a person or persons under eighteen years of age who are at least three years younger than that adult person [[Struck through: is]] [Underlined: shall be] guilty of a class B felony and upon conviction may be imprisoned pursuant to section 706-660 and, if appropriate as provided in section 706-641, fined pursuant to section 706-640.
(d) It [[Struck through: is]] [Underlined: shall be] unlawful for any person to place in any newspaper, magazine, handbill, or other publication any advertisement, knowing or under circumstances where one reasonably should know, that the purpose of the advertisement, in whole or in part, is to promote the sale of objects designed or intended for use as drug paraphernalia. Any person who violates this section [[Struck through: is]] [Underlined: shall be] guilty of a class C felony and upon conviction may be imprisoned pursuant to section 706-660 and, if appropriate as provided in section 706-641, fined pursuant to section 706-640.
(e) Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to a person who is authorized to:
(1) Acquire, possess, cultivate, use, distribute, or transport cannabis pursuant to the definition of "medical use" under section 329-121, while the person is facilitating the medical use of cannabis by a qualifying patient; or
(2) Dispense, manufacture, or produce cannabis or manufactured cannabis products pursuant to and in compliance with chapter 329D, while the person is facilitating the medical use of cannabis by a qualifying patient pursuant to part IX of chapter 329.
[Underlined: (f) Subsection (a) shall not apply to the possession of drug paraphernalia to:]
[Underlined: (1)] [Underlined: Store, contain, or conceal; or]
[Underlined: (2)] [Underlined: Inject, ingest, inhale, or otherwise introduce into the human body,]
[Underlined: marijuana.]"
SECTION 3. Section 712-1240, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:
"[Underlined: "Marijuana-infused product" means any product containing or derived from marijuana, including a marijuana concentrate.]"
SECTION 4. Section 712-1244, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (1) to read as follows:
"(1) A person commits the offense of promoting a harmful drug in the first degree if the person knowingly:
(a) Possesses one hundred or more capsules or tablets or dosage units containing one or more of the harmful drugs or one or more of the marijuana concentrates, or any combination thereof;
(b) Possesses one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances, of an aggregate weight of one ounce or more containing one or more of the harmful drugs or one or more of the marijuana concentrates, or any combination thereof;
(c) Distributes twenty-five or more capsules or tablets or dosage units containing one or more of the harmful drugs or one or more of the marijuana concentrates, or any combination thereof;
(d) Distributes[Underlined: , except as provided in section 712- ,] one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances, of an aggregate weight of one-eighth ounce or more, containing one or more of the harmful drugs or one or more of the marijuana concentrates, or any combination thereof; or
(e) Distributes any harmful drug or any marijuana concentrate in any amount to a minor."
SECTION 5. Section 712-1245, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (1) to read as follows:
"(1) A person commits the offense of promoting a harmful drug in the second degree if the person knowingly:
(a) Possesses fifty or more capsules or tablets or dosage units containing one or more of the harmful drugs or one or more of the marijuana concentrates, or any combination thereof;
(b) Possesses[Underlined: , except as provided in section 712-1246.5 or 712- ,] one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances, of an aggregate weight of one-eighth ounce or more, containing one or more of the harmful drugs or one or more of the marijuana concentrates, or any combination thereof; or
(c) Distributes[Underlined: , except as provided in section 712- ,] any harmful drug or any marijuana concentrate in any amount."
SECTION 6. Section 712-1246.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (1) to read as follows:
"(1) A person commits the offense of promoting a harmful drug in the fourth degree if the person knowingly possesses [[Struck through: any]][Underlined: :]
[Underlined: (a)] [Underlined: Any] harmful drug[Underlined: , except marijuana concentrate,] in any amount[[Struck through: .]][Underlined: ;]
[Underlined: (b)] [Underlined: Ten grams or more of marijuana concentrate; or]
[Underlined: (c)] [Underlined: Marijuana-infused products containing one gram or more of tetrahydrocannabinol, in the aggregate.]"
SECTION 7. Section 712-1247, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (1) to read as follows:
"(1) A person commits the offense of promoting a detrimental drug in the first degree if the person knowingly:
(a) Possesses four hundred or more capsules or tablets containing one or more of the Schedule V substances;
(b) Possesses one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances of an aggregate weight of one ounce or more, containing one or more of the Schedule V substances;
(c) Distributes fifty or more capsules or tablets containing one or more of the Schedule V substances;
(d) Distributes one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances of an aggregate weight of one-eighth ounce or more, containing one or more of the Schedule V substances;
(e) Possesses one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances of an aggregate weight of one pound or more, containing any marijuana;
(f) Distributes[Underlined: , except as provided in section 712-1249,] one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances of an aggregate weight of one ounce or more, containing any marijuana;
(g) Possesses, cultivates, or has under the person's control twenty-five or more marijuana plants; or
(h) Sells or barters any marijuana or any Schedule V substance in any amount."
SECTION 8. Section 712-1248, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (1) to read as follows:
"(1) A person commits the offense of promoting a detrimental drug in the second degree if the person knowingly:
(a) Possesses fifty or more capsules or tablets containing one or more of the Schedule V substances;
(b) Possesses one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances, of an aggregate weight of one-eighth ounce or more, containing one or more of the Schedule V substances;
(c) Possesses [[Struck through: one or more preparations, compounds, mixtures, or substances, of an aggregate weight of one ounce or more, containing any marijuana;]] [Underlined: two ounces or more of marijuana other than marijuana concentrate and marijuana-infused products;] or
(d) Distributes[Underlined: , except as provided in section 712-1249,] any marijuana or any Schedule V substance in any amount."
SECTION 9. Section 712-1249, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§712-1249 Promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree. (1) A person commits the offense of promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree if the person knowingly [[Struck through: possesses]][Underlined: :]
[Underlined: (a)] [Underlined: Possesses] any marijuana or any Schedule V substance in any amount[[Struck through: .]][Underlined: ;]
[Underlined: (b)] [Underlined: Transfers one ounce or less of marijuana other than marijuana concentrate and marijuana-infused products to a person who is twenty-one years of age or older without remuneration; or]
[Underlined: (c)] [Underlined: Smokes marijuana in a public place.]
(2) Promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree [[Struck through: is]] [Underlined: shall be] a petty misdemeanor; provided that [[Struck through: possession of three grams or less]][Underlined: :]
[Underlined: (a)] [Underlined: Possession of one ounce or less of marijuana or transfer without remuneration of one ounce or less] of marijuana [[Struck through: is]] [Underlined: other than marijuana concentrate and marijuana-infused products shall be] a violation, punishable by a fine of [[Struck through: $130.]] [Underlined: $25. A person found responsible for a violation under this paragraph may request, and shall be granted, a penalty of two hours of community service in lieu of a fine; or]
[Underlined: (b)] [Underlined: Smoking marijuana in a public place shall be a violation, punishable by a fine of up to $130. A person found responsible for a violation under this paragraph may request, and shall be granted, a penalty of up to ten hours of community service in lieu of a fine.][Underlined: ]
[Underlined: (3) For purposes of this section, a transfer of marijuana shall be considered for remuneration if:]
[Underlined: (a)] [Underlined: The marijuana is given away contemporaneously with another transaction between the same parties;]
[Underlined: (b)] [Underlined: A gift of marijuana is offered or advertised in conjunction with an offer for sale of goods, services, or admission to an event; or]
[Underlined: (c)] [Underlined: A gift of marijuana is contingent upon a separate transaction for goods, services, or the price of admission to an event.]"[Underlined: ]
SECTION 10. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 11. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 12. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Marijuana; Paraphernalia; Possession; Transfer; Smoking; Decriminalization
Description:
Exempts drug paraphernalia for marijuana from certain penalties under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Lowers the penalties for the possession and transfer without remuneration of certain amounts of marijuana, marijuana concentrate, and marijuana-infused products. Makes smoking marijuana in a public place a violation under the offense of promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.