Three States Progress Towards Legalizing Cannabis for Adults

LOS ANGELES– Three US states are making progress in legalizing cannabis possession for people aged 21 and above, as the debate on cannabis legalization continues across the country. In Hawaii, lawmakers have passed Senate Bill 669, which seeks to legalize the use, production, and retail sales of cannabis for adults. However, the future of the bill remains uncertain as it awaits action in the House, with Speaker Scott Saiki hesitating to move it forward this year and calling for further assessment in a summer study session.

Delaware’s House members have voted 28-13 in favor of HB 1, which eliminates criminal and civil penalties for adults possessing personal use quantities of cannabis. The chamber is also awaiting a pending bill, HB 2, which would provide regulations for the adult-use cannabis retail market. Similar legislation to SB 1 was passed by lawmakers last year, but Governor John Carney vetoed it, arguing that promoting or expanding the use of recreational cannabis was not in the best interest of the state, particularly for young people.

In Minnesota, two bills, HF 100 and SB 73, that would legalize the adult-use cannabis market, have passed multiple committees, and lawmakers expect them to receive floor votes in the coming weeks. These bills have the support of Democratic Governor Tim Walz, who has predicted that the state will pass legalization by May.

These states’ moves to reform cannabis law come as part of a broader trend of cannabis legalization in the US, with more states considering such measures. For further information on additional legislation, visit NORML’s Take Action Center.