Reducing the penalties for cannabis possession, while maintaining its illegality, fails to resolve the underlying problem.

While Hawaii was a pioneer in permitting “medical marijuana,” the legislation to create a legal marketplace for it took more than 10 years, creating — and perpetuating — two unequal classes of people: one permitted to break the possession laws, and the other not.

Sick people who can get doctors’ certificates are no different from healthy people, since — barring accidents — we will all die from some fatal medical condition.

Either the law must apply to everyone, or it must be changed. Ten states have established legal retail marketplaces, open to all adults, and that is clearly the way of the future.

Under Hawaii’s current “decriminalization” bill, people in possession would still risk a penalty. But collecting a few $130 fines will not generate much revenue; and police resources will still be diverted from pursuing serious crimes. “Decriminalization” is not a viable alternative to legalization.

Hal Glatzer

Hilo

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