2026 has been a disappointing year for cannabis policy reform in the Hawai’i Legislature. While bills to refer cannabis legalization to voters and to legalize lower potency products were proposed, those bills all died in committees. However, some modest reforms are still moving through the process, including a bill to allow patients to immediately purchase medical cannabis upon registration. See below for a list of some notable cannabis bills that were considered in Hawai’i in 2026. If you click on a bill number, it will take you to the legislature’s webpage for it, where you can read the full bill and see its current status. If a hearing has been scheduled, the legislature’s website will include the hearing date and time and a link to submit written testimony and/or to sign up for oral testimony (which you can do remotely or in person).
Bills That Are Alive
SB 3315, SD 1 — Relating to Cannabis (Temporary Authorization to Purchase; Written Certification)
Sponsor: Sen. McKelvey and cosponsors
Summary: Allows applicants or primary caregivers to make a one-time purchase of up to one ounce of medical cannabis after the submission of the applicant's certification form while waiting for confirmation of registration from the Department of Health. Requires the Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation to facilitate the temporary authorization.
Weigh-in: You can create an account on the Hawai’i Legislature’s website so you can submit written testimony and/or sign up to testify remotely or in person on this bill when/if it receives another hearing. You can also reach out to your state representative.
Status: On March 10, 2026, the full Senate passed SB 3315 with no “no” votes. It has been referred to the House committees on Health (HLT) and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs (JHA).
SB 2408, SD 1 — Relating to Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis (“Ryan’s Law”)
Sponsor: Sen. San Buenaventura and cosponsors
Summary: As introduced, HB 1542 allowed terminally ill patients and qualifying patients over 65 years old with chronic diseases to use medical cannabis within specified healthcare facilities under certain conditions. However, it was amended to say healthcare facilities “may” allow those patients to use medical cannabis. HD 1 also prohibits acute care hospitals from allowing non-terminal patients to use medical cannabis. Due to these restrictions and the change from “shall” to “may,” it would move access backwards instead of forward unless it is amended.
Weigh-in: You can create an account on the Hawai’i Legislature’s website so you can submit written testimony and/or sign up to testify remotely or in person. You can also reach out to your state representative.
Status: SB 2408 was amended and advanced out of the Senate. Its House referrals are the committees on Health (HLT) and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs (JHA).
SB 2418 SD 1— Relating to Controlled Substances. (Drug Paraphernalia; Repeal)
Sponsor: Sen. San Buenaventura
Summary: Repeals Hawai’i law prohibiting drug paraphernalia.
Status: Passed the Senate on March 10, 2026. Its House referrals are the committees on Health (HLT) and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs (JHA).
Bills that Failed to Advance Before Deadlines
SB 3275, SD 1— Relating to Cannabis (Low-Dose and Low-Potency Cannabis; Personal Adult Use; Cultivation; Legalization)
Summary: Allows the sale, home cultivation, and possession of “low-dose and low-potency cannabis” for adults 21 and older. These products can have no more than 5 milligrams of THC per serving. For liquids, they can have no more than 5 milligrams of THC per 12 ounces. It does not include licensing, many regulations, or an excise tax.
Status: On February 18 and 19, 2026, SB 3275 advanced out of the Senate Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection/Health and Human Services, with amendments to move it forward. It was not called for a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means and Judiciary (WAM/JUD) before a legislative deadline.
HB 1624 — Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to Legalize the Adult Use of Cannabis. (ConAm)
Sponsor: Rep. David Tarnas and 13 cosponsors
Summary: If it had been approved by two-thirds of lawmakers in both the House and Senate, this would have referred a constitutional amendment to voters on Nov. 3, 2026. The amendment would have legalized the use and possession of a personal-use amount of cannabis starting on July 1, 2027, for adults 21 and older. All the details of cannabis regulation would have been left to the legislature, which would have been directed to: “provide for the use, manufacture, distribution, sale, possession, regulation and taxation of cannabis within the State."
Status: Dead. HB 1624 was referred to the following House committees: Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs/Consumer Protection & Commerce and Finance (“JHA/CPC, FIN”). It was not called for a hearing before deadlines.
SB 2420 — Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to Legalize the Adult Use of Cannabis. (ConAm)
Sponsor: Sen. Joy San Buenaventura
Status: Dead. SB 2420 was referred to the Senate Judiciary and Ways & Means Committees “(JDC, WAM).” It was not called for a hearing before deadlines.
HB 1625 — Relating to Cannabis (Hawaiʻi Cannabis and Hemp Office; regulates cannabis for adults 21+, contingent on triggers)
Sponsor: Rep. David Tarnas and 11 cosponsors
Summary: Transfers regulatory authority for hemp and cannabis to a new Hawaiʻi Cannabis and Hemp Office within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Contingent upon federal legalization, a final federal court ruling on states’ authority to regulate marijuana, or a state constitutional amendment, legalizes cannabis for adults 21 and older and taxes cannabis.
Status: Dead/deferred. HB 1625 has been referred to Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs/Agriculture, then Consumer Protection & Commerce and Finance Committees (“JHA/AGR, CPC, FIN)”. It was not called for a hearing before deadlines.
SB 2421 — Relating to Cannabis (Hawaiʻi Cannabis and Hemp Office; regulates cannabis for adults 21+, contingent on triggers)
Status: Dead/deferred. SB 2421 was referred to the Senate Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection/Health and Human Services and Judiciary/Ways & Means (“CPN/HHS, WAM/JDC”). SB 2421 received a hearing in CPN/HHS, but was deferred. SB 3275 was advanced instead.
SB 2998 — Relating to Medical Cannabis (employment protections)
Sponsor: Sen. Mike Lee
Summary: Prohibit a professional or vocational licensing board from disciplining or revoking the license of a person for lawful and responsible medical cannabis use. Prohibits employers from discriminating against workers based on their lawful use of medical cannabis, with exceptions if the person was impaired at work or if federal law required such actions. There is also currently an exception (which HACR opposes) for unionized workplaces where the collective bargaining agreement allows discrimination.
Status: Dead/deferred. SB 2998 was referred to the Senate Committees on Health and Human Services/Labor and Technology, Judiciary, and Commerce and Consumer Protection (“HHS/LBT, JDC/CPN”) It was not called for a hearing before deadlines.
HB 2613 — Relating to Cannabis (Hemp; Cannabinoids Drink Products; Sale; Penalties)
Sponsor: Rep. Grandinetti and cosponsors
Summary: Allows the sale of beverages with up to 10 milligrams of hemp-derived cannabinoids to adults 21 and older.
Status: Dead/deferred. HB 2613 was referred to the House Committees of Health, Consumer Protection & Commerce, and Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs (“HLT, CPC, JHA”). It was not called for a hearing before deadlines.
SB 3206 — Relating to Cannabinoids (Cannabinoids; Hemp Processors; Manufactured Hemp Products; Tetrahydrocannabinol Concentration Limit; Retail)
Summary: Allows the processing and sale of the following to adults 21 and older: hemp-derived gummies with up to five milligrams of THC per gummy, beverages with up to five milligrams per container, hemp flower with up to five milligrams of THC per serving, and tinctures. Changes the definition of “manufactured hemp product” to include “floral materials” and to allow up to five milligrams of THC per serving, instead of the 0.3% THC cap.
Status: Dead/deferred. SB 3206 was referred to the Senate Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection/Health and Human Services and then Ways and Means/Judiciary. (“HHS/CPN, WAM/ JDC”) HHS and CPN heard the bill but deferred it and advanced a different low-potency cannabis bill, SB 3275.
HB 1542, HD 12 — Relating to Compassionate Access to Medical Cannabis (“Ryan’s Law”)
Sponsor: Rep. Takayama
Summary: As introduced, HB 1542 allowed terminally ill patients and qualifying patients over 65 years old with chronic diseases to use medical cannabis within specified healthcare facilities under certain conditions. However, it was amended to say healthcare facilities “may” allow those patients to use medical cannabis. HD 1 also prohibits healthcare facilities from allowing vaping or smoking (including in private nursing homes where smoking can be allowed), and it prohibits acute care hospitals from allowing non-terminal patients to use medical cannabis. Due to these restrictions and the change from “shall” to “may,” it would move access backwards instead of forward.
Status: Dead/deferred. HB 1542 was amended and advanced out of the House Committees on Health. It was not called for a hearing in the House Consumer Protection & Commerce Committee before a legislative deadline.
HB 1856 — Relating to Cannabis (DLE; Medical Cannabis; Medical Records; Inspection; Repeal)
Sponsor: Rep. Takayama and cosponsors
Summary: This would have repealed provisions of HB 302 (2025) that HACR opposed, allowing regulators to inspect the medical records of patients who received a medical cannabis certification. It also repeals provisions allowing the department to revoke practitioners’ power to certify.
Status: Dead/deferred. HB 1856 was referred to the House Committees on Health and Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs (“HLT, JHA") It was not called for a hearing before deadlines. However, its Senate companion, SB 2274 advanced in time.
SB 1613 — Relating to Cannabis (legalization and regulation for adults 21+)
Summary: SB 1613 would legalize the possession, home cultivation, and regulated production and sale of cannabis in Hawai’i for adults 21 and older. An extensive summary of the bill is available here.
Weigh-in: You can use our advocacy platform to write your lawmakers and ask them to legalize cannabis. You can also reach out to your state senator and representative.
Status: Carried over from 2025. SB 1613 advanced out of the Senate Health and Human Services and Judiciary Committees on February 13, 2025. It has two more Senate Committee referrals — Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means — but was not called to a vote before the 2025 deadline. (The Committee referral was HHS/JDC, CPN/WAM.)
SB 2274 — Relating to Cannabis (DLE; Medical Cannabis; Medical Records; Inspection; Repeal)
Sponsor: Sen. Joy San Buenaventura and four cosponsors
Summary: This would repeal provisions of HB 302 (2025) that HACR opposed, allowing regulators to inspect the medical records of patients who received a medical cannabis certification. It also repeals provisions allowing the department to revoke practitioners’ power to certify.
Status: On February 18, 2026, SB 2274 advanced out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, 5-0. It was never called to a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee before a deadline passed.
HB 1246 — Relating to Cannabis (legalization and regulation for adults 21+)
Sponsor: Rep. David Tarnas
Summary: HB 1246 would have legalized the possession, home cultivation, and regulated production and sale of cannabis in Hawai’i for adults 21 and older. An extensive summary of the bill is available here.
Status: Dead/deferred. Carried over from 2025. Passed out of two committees in 2025 — Agriculture and Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs — then was re-referred by the floor back to the committees. (The Committee referrals are JHA/AGR, CPC, FIN.)
HB 891— Relating to Marijuana (improves decriminalization)
Summary: Reduces the penalty for possession of up to an ounce of cannabis (or 10 ounces at home) or five grams of concentrate to a $25 fine. Removes paraphernalia for using or storing cannabis from the paraphernalia prohibition. Imposes a $130 fine on public smoking of cannabis.
Status: Dead/deferred. Carried over from 2025. Did not meet the deadline to get out of committees, which were Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Finance (JHA, FIN).
HB 217 — Relating to Marijuana (improves decriminalization)
Summary: Removes penalties for paraphernalia used to consume or store cannabis. Lowers the penalties for the possession and transfer without remuneration of certain amounts of cannabis, cannabis concentrate, and cannabis-infused products to a violation carrying a $25 fine. Makes smoking marijuana in a public place a violation carrying a $130 fine. Allows individuals to request community service in lieu of a fine.
Status: Dead/deferred. Carried over from 2025. Was referred to the House Judiciary and Finance Committees (JHA, FIN). Did not advance out of those committees in time.
HB 325 — Relating to Medical Cannabis (limited employment protections)
Sponsor: Rep. Jeanné Kapela
Summary: Prohibits employers from discriminating against medical cannabis patients, including those who test positive. Includes broad exceptions for jobs, including anyone who drives a motor vehicle, anyone who carries a gun, EMS, firefighters, and those working with children and the elderly. Does not apply if discrimination is allowed by a collective bargaining agreement or required by federal law.
Status: Dead/deferred. Carried over from 2025, when it passed the House Labor Committee and was not taken up by the Consumer Protection Committee before the committee deadline. The committee referrals were: LAB, CPC, JHA. It did not advance out of CPC before a deadline.
Additional Bills
For a far longer list of Hawai’i bills that were proposed on cannabis, marijuana, and hemp – and their current status — see the bills listed at the bottom of the Marijuana Policy Project’s Hawai’i page. The bills and statuses provided courtesy of BillTrack 50.