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A move to legalize marijuana for recreational use died Tuesday at the state Capitol, with opposing lawmakers saying more research is needed on the proposal’s potential impacts.
Despite strong support in the state Senate, House leaders Tuesday afternoon announced they will not be holding any further hearings on the bill. The decision was not a surprise; the softness of support in the House was apparent and law enforcement, advocates and social conservatives banded together against it effectively.
Leaders also mentioned the resistance on the floor during a vote March 22 to forward the bill to the House Finance Committee.
Democrats who dominate the House were divided by the proposal.
State Rep. Cedric Gates, who represents Waianae and Makaha, supported legalization and countered concerns that marijuana sales will become widespread.
“I’m concerned that cannabis can already be sold on every street corner, that cannabis is already being sold by criminals,” Gates said. “I am concerned that these same criminals are selling cannabis to our children.”
But state Rep. Darius Kila, whose West Oahu District borders Gates’, said that legalizing marijuana will lead to more drug abuse. “When folks experience substance abuse, they don’t come to the backyards of your communities. They come to the West side of Oahu and they occupy public spaces and beaches,” Kila said.
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