Last Updated June 18, 2004

Medical Marijuana: Hawaii allows patients to use medical marijuana if they get a registry certificate from the state Department of health and their caregivers register them as well. This law was enacted in December of 2000 after Gov. Ben Cayetano signed Senate Bill 862.

Other Recent Drug Reforms: The people of Hawaii still remain in the driver’s seat of their government’s drug policy and the politicians are listening. In February 2003, a student drug-testing bill was defeated when civil liberties groups and parents pressured legislators to reject it. The bill, which was supported by Republican governor Linda Lingle, would have allowed schools to drug test students enrolled in athletics or “physically strenuous” co-curricular activities. Many who were called to testify voiced concern that such a bill would keep more students away from extra-curricular activities than it would keep them away from drugs.

In 2000, Hawaii became the first state to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes through the legislative process, adopting legislation similar to what voters have approved in seven other states. Also in 2002, Hawaii became the first state to adopt Proposition 36-style “treatment instead of incarceration” legislation through the legislative process.  Legislators have also passed four bills in support of industrial hemp since 1996, including legislation making it legal for the first hemp test plot to grow in America since the crop was banned after World War II.

While reform has been bi-partisan, much of the success can be attributed to former Democratic Governor Benjamin Cayetano, who has been a leading advocate for reform. Governor Cayetano introduced the medical marijuana legislation that was passed, and has been an outspoken critic of the federal government’s policy towards medical marijuana. Recently he declared, “it’s [about] time that Congress finally gets around to understanding that the states should be allowed to provide this kind of relief to the people. Congress is way, way behind in their thinking.”   Governor Cayetano also strongly supported Hawaii’s “treatment instead of incarceration” legislation, and signed it into law in June of 2002.

Hawaii's Drug Policy Reform Organizations: 

• Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii
• American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii