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HB1416
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
1416
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to cannabis
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION 1.
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The
legislature finds that marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a plant with psychoactive
properties derived primarily from its main psychoactive component
tetrahydrocannabinol.
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From available
data, there is a general agreement that cannabis use is not healthy for young
people, and therefore, addressing cannabis use among youth is a major public
health concern.
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Exposures of cannabis to
children and adolescents have increased and so has the significant risk for
permanent neuropsychiatric changes with cannabis use in childhood.
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Accordingly, physicians, parents, and
children alike need to be aware of these risks.
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The legislature further finds that, except
for some refractory epilepsy and seizure disorders, there is no established
beneficial use of cannabis in children.
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There is, however, extensive evidence for serious, permanent harm on
developing brains, including cognitive impairment, underdeveloped
decision-making capacity, and functional impairment in attention and
memory.
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The United States Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention warns that cannabis use impairs youth brain
development for decades and that thinking, memory, and learning deficiencies
may be permanent and are linked to teen suicide, depression, and social
anxiety.
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Additionally, studies show that
youth using cannabis face a fourfold increase in psychosis diagnoses in
adulthood and there is increased risk for the early onset of psychiatric
conditions such as schizophrenia.
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The
long-term effects of cannabis use are greater for teens than adults.
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For example, youth with an ongoing cannabis
use disorder lost an average of eight intelligence quotient points between ages
thirteen and thirty‑eight.
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Early
youth use of cannabis can also lead to cannabis use disorder, suicidal
ideation, poor school performance, increased high school dropout rates, and
negative effects on male fertility.
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The legislature additionally finds that
cannabis is addictive, especially for adolescents because their brains are
still developing and vulnerable.
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Adolescents who start using cannabis before the age of fourteen are four
times more likely to become addicted by the time they are adults.
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Approximately three in ten people who use
cannabis have cannabis use disorder.
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The
risk of developing cannabis use disorder is stronger in people who start using
cannabis during youth or adolescence and who use cannabis more frequently.
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The legislature finds that it is critical
that Hawaii reassures the community that there are prevention practices in
place to protect youth from the potential harm of cannabis use and community
efforts to prevent high-risk behaviors when children and teenagers begin using
cannabis.
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Youth cannabis use prevention
is also important for families due to the increase in youth hospitalizations
for hallucinations, nausea, and seizures due to pediatric ingestions of cannabis
primarily occurring at home.
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Prevention
programs are best when combining a community focus on social norms and economic
conditions with support from schools, health administrators, health care
professionals, child advocacy groups, parent associations, and local officials.
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Adolescent substance misuse prevention
involves strategies and programs aimed at reducing the risk of young people
using or misusing drugs, alcohol, and other substances.
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Prevention efforts focus on addressing the
factors that increase vulnerability to substance use while promoting protective
factors that foster healthy development and resilience.
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The legislature also finds that there are
informational media campaigns and evidence-based prevention strategies already
developed that communities could implement to prevent youth cannabis use, such
as public education, public policy development, environmental scans, data
monitoring, and community collaborations.
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Gathering data can aid in assessing and developing local strategic
planning processes to identify the factors that are contributing to youth
cannabis use and related issues.
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Therefore, Hawaii needs to increase its prevalence of prevention
services.
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The legislature believes that
an informational campaign is needed to inform youth that cannabis use is much
more damaging to them than adults.
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Hawaii should follow other states who have developed short-term media
campaigns, increased prevention, and added more resources for youth treatment
relating to cannabis use.
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Through
prevention and education, families and youth can learn positive family factors
to build trust for developing a protective role in preventing youth cannabis
use.
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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
require the alcohol and drug abuse division of the department of health to:
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(1)
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Develop
and implement a comprehensive messaging and informational campaign to prevent
cannabis use among the State's youth; and
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(2)
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Enter
into contracts with community-based organizations to award grants to prevent
substance misuse among youth through evidenced-based prevention programs.
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SECTION 2.
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(a)
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The alcohol and drug abuse
division of the department of health shall develop and implement a
comprehensive messaging and informational campaign to prevent cannabis use
among the State's youth.
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The campaign
shall include media regarding youth use of cannabis and its impact on public
health and safety.
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(b)
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The alcohol and drug abuse division of the department of health shall
establish and enter into contracts with community-based organizations to award
grants to prevent substance misuse among youth through evidenced-based
prevention services.
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(c)
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The department of health shall submit a report of its findings and
recommendations to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the
convening of the regular session of 2027.
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The report shall include:
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(1)
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How
funds received pursuant to this Act have been expended;
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(2)
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The
specific service providers involved in implementing this Act;
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(3)
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The
number of persons who have been engaged by the informational campaign or have
received prevention services;
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(4)
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A
description of the services provided;
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(5)
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Measurable
outcomes; and
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(6)
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Any
proposed legislation.
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SECTION 3.
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There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $ or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or
so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the
development and implementation of the informational campaign to prevent
cannabis use among the State's youth and to enter into contracts to prevent
substance misuse among youth.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the
purposes of this Act.
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SECTION 4.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
DOH;
ADAD; Informational Campaign; Prevention Services; Report; Appropriations
Description:
Requires
the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division of the Department of Health to develop and
implement a comprehensive messaging and informational campaign to prevent
cannabis use among the State's youth.
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Requires
the Division to establish and enter into contracts with community-based
organizations to award grants to prevent substance misuse among youth through
evidenced-based prevention programs.
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Requires a report to the Legislature.
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Appropriates funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.