Hawaii health officials are affirming their support for federal marijuana rescheduling—a policy change that the Trump administration is actively considering.
At the same time, a state lawmaker who sponsored a cannabis legalization bill in the most recent session says he’s actively gathering input on how to revise the legislation in the hopes it can pass next year.
On rescheduling, the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) told The Honolulu Star-Advertiser that it “recognizes that cannabis’ current classification as a Schedule I substance, defined as having no accepted medical use, conflicts with the growing body of scientific evidence and the reality of its lawful medical use in Hawaii and many other states.”
“If cannabis were reclassified to Schedule III, it could reduce certain barriers to research, allow for more standardized medical guidance, and potentially ease banking and insurance challenges for the industry,” DOH said. “At the same time, federal reclassification would not change Hawaii’s medical cannabis laws or program requirements unless the Legislature amends state law.”
“DOH would continue to prioritize patient safety, product quality, and public health regardless of cannabis’ federal classification,” the statement said.
At this stage, it’s unclear when a decision from President Donald Trump on the federal rescheduling
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