HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2264

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE COUNTIES.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Chapter 46, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Part    .  COUNTY-BASED LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA FOR NON-MEDICAL USE

     §46-A  Definitions.  As used in this part, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

     "Adult" means an individual who is eighteen years of age or older.

     "County" means a pilot county; provided that as used in this section and section 46-B, "county" means a county within the State.

     "Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol" means the primary psychoactive component of marijuana.

     "Legalize" means to authorize possession, sale, transfer, and use.

     "Marijuana dispensary" means a person authorized by a pilot county to sell marijuana within the county.

     "Minor" means an individual under the age of eighteen years.

     "Ordinance" means one or more ordinances ordained by a pilot county to authorize within the county the possession, sale, transfer, and use of marijuana, subject to this part.

     "Pilot county" means a county that authorizes within the county the possession, sale, transfer, and use of marijuana, subject to this part.

     §46-B  General provisions.  (a)  A county may enact an ordinance to authorize within the county the possession, sale, transfer, and use of marijuana; provided that the county fully complies with this part.  A county that legalizes marijuana as authorized by this part shall also be known as a pilot county.

     (b)  This part shall not be construed to require any county to authorize within the county the possession, sale, transfer, or use of marijuana.

     (c)  This part shall prevail over any other state law or pilot county ordinance to the contrary.

     §46-C  Marijuana dispensaries; delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol levels.  (a)  An ordinance shall establish procedures through which a person shall obtain approval to sell marijuana within the pilot county as a marijuana dispensary.  The ordinance shall also establish requirements the for the operation of marijuana dispensaries.

     (b)  An ordinance shall prohibit any individual under the age of eighteen years from knowingly entering or remaining upon premises under the control of a marijuana dispensary.

     (c)  A pilot county may elect to automatically authorize any medical cannabis dispensary that is operating pursuant to chapter 329D to also operate as a marijuana dispensary within the county.

     (d)  The level of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol in the marijuana sold at any marijuana dispensary shall not exceed the level approved by the department of health.

     §46-D  Limitations regarding persons; amounts.  A pilot county shall not authorize:

     (1)  Any minor to possess, sell, transfer, or use marijuana in any amount;

     (2)  Any adult, other than a person working for a marijuana dispensary, to possess more than three ounces of marijuana at any given time; and

     (3)  Any person to sell or transfer any amount of marijuana to a minor.

     §46-E  Synthetic products prohibited.  Any ordinance shall prohibit synthetic delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol products within the pilot county.

     §46-F  Packaging; labeling; minors.  (a)  An ordinance shall require marijuana that is sold within the pilot county to be sold in packaging that protects the marijuana from the elements and prevents tampering.

     (b)  An ordinance shall require accurate labeling on marijuana sold within the pilot county.  Marijuana shall be deemed to be mislabeled if:

     (1)  Its labeling is false or misleading in any particular;

     (2)  It is offered for sale under the name of another type of product;

     (3)  Its container is so made, formed, or filled as to be misleading;

     (4)  It is missing a label containing:

          (A)  The name and place of business of the seller; and

          (B)  An accurate statement of the quantity of the contents in terms of weight, measure, or numerical count;

     (5)  Any word, statement, or other information required by the ordinance or any rule adopted pursuant to chapter 91 to appear on the label or labeling is not prominently placed thereon with such conspicuousness (as compared with other words, statements, designs, or devices, in the labeling) and in terms as to render it likely to be read and understood by the ordinary individual under customary conditions of purchase and use;

     (6)  It:

          (A)  Fails to meet a standard of quality specified by the ordinance and its quality falls below the standard unless its label bears, in the manner and form as the ordinance specifies, a statement that it falls below the standard; or

          (B)  Falls below the standard of fill of container imposed by the ordinance, unless its label bears, in the manner and form as the ordinance specifies, a statement that it falls below the standard; or

     (7)  The label purports the marijuana to be or is represented as for health or medical uses.

     (c)  An ordinance shall prohibit marijuana packaging or labeling that is designed to be attractive to minors.

     §46-G  Limitation on transportation.  An ordinance may authorize marijuana dispensaries within the pilot county to transport marijuana outside the county; provided that federal law has authorized the transportation of marijuana over non-state waters.

     §46-H  Poison control.  An ordinance shall establish a poison control center to assist persons who suffer from excessive intake of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol.

     §46-I  Costs; reimbursement; criminal justice; incarceration; data monitoring.  Prior to effectuating any ordinance ordained pursuant to section 46-C, a pilot county shall enter into memoranda of understanding with:

     (1)  The judiciary to reimburse the judiciary for all costs incurred by the judiciary for the adjudication of marijuana offenses within the county;

     (2)  The department of public safety to reimburse the department for all costs incurred by the department for the incarceration of individuals who committed marijuana offenses within the county;

     (3)  The department of health to reimburse the department for all costs incurred by the department for the purpose of data monitoring relating to the use of marijuana within the county; and

     (4)  The department of the attorney general to reimburse the department for all costs incurred by the department for the prosecution of persons who sell marijuana in the pilot county described in part     of chapter without collecting and paying to the State the tax imposed on the sale pursuant to chapter 237 and the surcharge imposed pursuant to section 46-K.

     §46-J  Law enforcement; budgets.  For every fiscal year after fiscal year 2021-2022, a pilot county shall approve an overall operating budget for its police department that is no less than         per cent higher than the overall operating budget for fiscal year 2021-2022.

     §46-K  Pilot county surcharge on state tax.  (a)  An ordinance shall establish a surcharge on the state taxes imposed pursuant to chapters 237 and 238 on the sale of marijuana within the pilot county.  If established, the rate of the surcharge shall be            per cent on the gross proceeds of sales of marijuana within the county.

     (b)  An ordinance shall prohibit selling marijuana without the collection and payment to the State of the tax imposed on the sale pursuant to chapter 237 and the surcharge imposed pursuant to this section.

     (c)  The pilot county shall notify the director of taxation of the adoption of the ordinance.  No later than    days after the director of taxation's receipt of the notification, the director shall levy, assess, collect, and otherwise administer the pilot county surcharge on state tax.

     (d)  A pilot county shall use moneys obtained from the surcharge for:

     (1)  The administration of ordinances ordained and rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91 for the purposes of this part; and

     (2)  Reimbursements required by section 46-I.

     §46-L  Rules.  A pilot county may adopt rules necessary for the implementation of this part, subject to chapter 91."

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 28, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§28-     Pilot county surcharge; marijuana; prosecution.  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the department of the attorney general shall prosecute any person who sells marijuana in a pilot county described in part     of chapter 46 without  collecting and paying to the State the tax imposed on the sale pursuant to chapter 237 and the surcharge imposed pursuant to section 46-K."

     SECTION 3.  Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§321-     Data monitoring; marijuana; pilot counties.  (a)  The department of health shall monitor the use of marijuana within a pilot county that has legalized marijuana pursuant to part     of chapter 46.

     (b)  The department of health shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session."

     SECTION 4.  Chapter 329D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§329D-     Marijuana; sales; pilot counties.  (a)  Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, a medical cannabis dispensary operating pursuant to this chapter may also act as a marijuana dispensary as defined in section 46‑A, to the extent authorized by a pilot county that has legalized marijuana pursuant to part      of chapter 46.

     (b)  The department shall not impose any penalty upon a medical cannabis dispensary solely based on the fact that it is also operating as a marijuana dispensary pursuant to part     of chapter 46."

     SECTION 5.  Chapter 712, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§712-     County legalization of marijuana.  (1)  A person who possesses, sells, transfers, or uses marijuana within a pilot county that has legalized marijuana pursuant to part      of chapter 46 shall not be deemed in violation of this part; provided that the person is in full compliance with the county ordinances and rules adopted pursuant to that part.

     (2)  This part shall not be enforceable in a pilot county that has legalized marijuana pursuant to part     of chapter 46, unless the defendant is not in full compliance with the county ordinances and rules adopted pursuant to that part."

     SECTION 6.  Section 329D-15, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  No person shall intentionally or knowingly enter or remain upon the premises of a medical cannabis retail dispensing location unless the individual is:

     (1)  An individual licensee or registered employee of the dispensary;

     (2)  A qualifying patient, primary caregiver, qualifying out-of-state patient, or caregiver of a qualifying out-of-state patient;

     (3)  A government employee or official acting in the person's official capacity; or

     (4)  Previously included on a current department-approved list provided to the department by the licensee of those persons who are allowed into that dispensary's facilities for a specific purpose for that dispensary, including but not limited to construction, maintenance, repairs, legal counsel, providers of paratransit or other assistive services required by a qualifying patient to access a retail dispensary location, or investors; provided that:

          (A)  The person has been individually approved by the department to be included on the list;

          (B)  The person [is at least twenty-one years of age], as verified by a valid government issued identification card[;]:

               (i)  Is at least eighteen years of age, if the retail dispensing location is under the control of a dispensary that is also authorized to sell marijuana within a pilot county pursuant to part     of chapter 46; or

              (ii)  Is at least twenty-one years of age, if the retail dispensing location is not as described in clause (i);

          (C)  The department has confirmed that the person has no felony convictions;

          (D)  The person is escorted by an individual licensee or registered employee of the dispensary at all times while in the dispensary facility;

          (E)  The person is only permitted within those portions of the dispensary facility as necessary to fulfill the person's purpose for entering;

          (F)  The person is only permitted within the dispensary facility during the times and for the duration necessary to fulfill the person's purpose for entering;

          (G)  The dispensary shall keep an accurate record of each person's first and last name, date and times upon entering and exiting the dispensary facility, purpose for entering, and the identity of the escort; and

          (H)  The approved list shall be effective for one year from the date of the department approval."

     SECTION 7.  Section 329D-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  No person shall intentionally or knowingly enter or remain upon the premises of a medical cannabis production center unless the person is:

     (1)  An individual licensee or registered employee of the production center;

     (2)  A government employee or official acting in the person's official capacity; or

     (3)  Previously included on a current department-approved list provided to the department by the licensee of those persons who are allowed into that dispensary's facilities for a specific purpose for that dispensary, including but not limited to construction, maintenance, repairs, legal counsel, or investors; provided that:

          (A)  The person has been individually approved by the department to be included on the list;

          (B)  The person [is at least twenty-one years of age], as verified by a valid government issued identification card[;]:

               (i)  Is at least eighteen years of age, if the production center is under the control of a dispensary that is also authorized to sell marijuana within a pilot county pursuant to part     of chapter 46; or

              (ii)  Is at least twenty-one years of age, if the production center is not as described in clause (i);

          (C)  The department has confirmed that the person has no felony convictions;

          (D)  The person is escorted by an individual licensee or registered employee of the dispensary at all times while in the dispensary facility;

          (E)  The person is only permitted within those portions of the dispensary facility as necessary to fulfill the person's purpose for entering;

          (F)  The person is only permitted within the dispensary facility during the times and for the duration necessary to fulfill the person's purpose for entering;

          (G)  The dispensary shall keep an accurate record of each person's identity, date and times upon entering and exiting the dispensary facility, purpose for entering, and the identity of the escort; and

          (H)  The approved list shall be effective for one year from the date of department approval."

     SECTION 8.  In codifying the new sections added by section 1 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

     SECTION 9.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 10.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 11.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Non-medical Marijuana; Cannabis; Counties; Ordinances; Taxation

 

Description:

Authorizes the counties to adopt ordinances to legalize non-medical marijuana possession, sale, transfer, and use for adults, subject to certain conditions.  Imposes a general excise tax surcharge on non-medical marijuana sold within those counties.  Exempts persons from certain criminal offenses, provided they comply with county requirements.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.