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HB814
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
814
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 (THC).
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With more legalization occurring across the
nation, there have been changing trends that affect youth cannabis use such as
greater public acceptance, declining perception of risk, increasing
availability of new products, higher potency, pervasive marketing with products
that appeal to youth, and varying content of THC in similar products.
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The
legislature further finds that addressing cannabis use among youth is a major
public health concern.
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In 2022, the department
of health reported that youth lifetime use was at 33.2 per cent while use in
the past month was at 20.3 per cent.
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Treatment
agencies for cannabis use disorder reported that 63.5 per cent of kids
presenting for treatment do so because of problems stemming from overuse of
cannabis.
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As of 2023, cannabis use by
youth in the past month, a better determinative indicator for the effects of
legalization, increased albeit modestly.
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While youth cannabis use declined overall in 2023, older students
consistently reported higher usage at twenty-two per cent, suggesting a need
for targeted interventions aimed at older adolescents.
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Also, cannabis use among girls increased to eighteen
per cent.
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The
legislature also finds that there is general agreement from available data that
cannabis use is not healthy for young people.
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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 that
cannabis use causes serious, permanent harm on developing brains.
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Studies show that early cannabis use can
impair adolescent brain development causing cognitive impairment and
underdeveloped decision-making as well as functional impairments in attention
and memory.
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There are increased risks
for the early onset of psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia.
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Early cannabis use 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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Physicians, parents, and children alike need
to be aware of these risks.
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The
legislature additionally finds that prevention practices can protect youth from
the potential harm of cannabis use as well as be a link for youth to access
treatment.
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It is important to build and
support a diverse and skilled public health workforce for cannabis prevention
and treatment that provides health support functions and ensures continuous
quality improvement to develop an organizational infrastructure that prevents
the harms of cannabis and improves public health.
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It is also critical for Hawaii reassure the
community that it has the capacity to address prevention and treatment for
youth cannabis use.
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There are
a number of informational, media, and evidence-based prevention strategies that
communities could implement to prevent youth cannabis use, such as:
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public education, local policy, environmental
scans, data monitoring, and community collaborations.
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Public health and education as well as media
campaigns are more effective if the effort develops and is implemented in a
comprehensive public health and education campaign.
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Public education messages can decrease the
misconceptions about cannabis as well as build support for prevention
strategies, increase knowledge about relevant aspects of the law, and establish
positive social norms and healthy beliefs.
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Programs and media campaigns that educate youth about risks and
consequences of cannabis use and emphasize refusal skills have been and will
continue to be important strategies to prevent youth cannabis use.
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Hawaii can
build upon other states' successful prevention-oriented, media-based
interventions designed to reduce adolescent cannabis use using similar message
strategies.
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Media-based campaigns are
attractive as intervention strategies given the potential economies of scale
associated with media interventions as well as youth involvement with and
influence by media.
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Media-based
interventions show reductions in cannabis use when in-school media and
promotional materials are combined with community-based efforts, especially
when positive autonomy and competence goals are linked with non-use.
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Prevention
programs work best when combining a community focus on a population segment
with an environmental strategy to address social norms and economic conditions
to influence behavior.
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Key components of
prevention include education and awareness in community campaigns, skill-building
programs, family-based prevention and education, family strengthening programs,
peer interventions, community engagement, coalition building, and policy and
regulation.
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The
legislature further finds that cannabis is habit forming and can lead to
addiction, especially for adolescents.
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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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Cannabis addiction is more common among teens than adults because their
brains are still developing and are far more sensitive to the chemicals in
cannabis.
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Therefore, cannabis use peaks
in teen years and early twenties.
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Cannabis,
like other addictive drugs, demonstrates heightened behavioral responses and
altered brain activity as well as withdrawal symptoms of irritability, sleep
problems, anxiety, and cravings.
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The
high potency of cannabis currently available is noteworthy because it increases
the unpredictability of a reaction, accounting for a rise in emergency room
visits due to the effect of cannabis.
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However,
since cannabis does not generally pose an immediate threat to health, it can be
more challenging to stop using the drug.
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Moreover, many people who later develop
addiction to other drugs, first started with cannabis.
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The
legislature also finds that as cannabis use increases, so will the need for
treatment for cannabis use disorders.
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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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Most
teens who enter substance use disorder treatment programs in Hawaii and other
states report that cannabis is the main or only drug they use.
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Teens who identify other drugs as their
primary drug of choice often say they use cannabis too.
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Adolescent
substance use disorder treatment refers to a range of interventions designed to
help young people overcome issues related to the use of alcohol, drugs, or
other substances.
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Since adolescents have
unique developmental, psychological, and social needs, treatment approaches are
tailored specifically to this age group, focusing on building healthy
behaviors, coping mechanisms, and support systems.
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Behavioral therapies are the best practice
and are available for treating cannabis use disorders using motivational
enhancement, cognitive therapies, and motivational incentives.
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Early identification and treatment can
prevent long-term substance dependence and help adolescents build healthier
futures.
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While engaging in a supportive
and structured program increases the chances of successful recovery.
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The purpose of this Act is to protect children from health risks
associated with cannabis use by implementing extensive, well-funded public
health protections.
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Specifically, this
Act appropriates funds for:
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(1)
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A
public health and informational campaign;
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(2)
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Grants
to prevent substance misuse among youth; and
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(3)
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Grants
to treat substance use disorder among youth.
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SECTION 2.
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There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $4,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year
2025-2026 and the sum of $2,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for
fiscal year 2026-2027 for the department of health to develop and implement
comprehensive messaging in a public health and informational campaign that
includes media regarding youth cannabis use and its impact on public health and
safety.
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The
campaign may inform the public about any new laws related to cannabis and the
continuing risks that cannabis use poses to children.
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A multi-media campaign may include a mix of
digital, social media, radio, and television advertising, along with materials
for schools and community groups.
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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 3.
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There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $5,000,000 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 alcohol and drug abuse division
of the department of health
to administer grants for community-based
organizations to provide youth and families with evidenced-based prevention
services that prevent substance misuse among youth, especially youth cannabis
use.
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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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There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $5,000,000 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 alcohol and drug abuse division
of the department of health
to administer grants for community-based
organizations to provide youth and families with evidenced-based treatment
services, such as residential, intensive outpatient, and outpatient programs,
to treat substance use disorder among youth, especially youth cannabis use.
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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 5.
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The department of health shall submit a report to the legislature no
later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of
2027,
of its findings and recommendations, including:
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(1)
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The
manner in which funds received pursuant to this Act have been expended;
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(2)
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The
particular service providers involved;
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(3)
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The
number of persons who have been served;
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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 6.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
DOH;
Youth Cannabis Use; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates
funds for the Department of Health to develop and implement a public health and
informational campaign; administer grants to prevent substance misuse among
youth; and administer grants to treat substance use disorder among youth.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.