State lawmakers introduce marijuana decriminalization bills

Lawmakers in Hawaii are beginning to introduce a series of bills that aim to make marijuana more freely available in the state.

Sen. Will Espero says a bill to decriminalize marijuana is being drafted. He says that bill would reduce punishment for using marijuana to a civil violation instead of a felony.

And he plans to introduce at least two other bills on the topic Friday.

One would allow people who grow marijuana plants to serve more than one medical marijuana patient. Another bill would change the drug’s classification.

In the House, a bill was introduced Thursday to prohibit discrimination against medical marijuana users in condominiums.

Espero he believes decriminalization could pass in Hawaii this year. But House Majority Leader Scott Saiki has said decriminalization is unlikely to pass.