# Hawaii HB 1246: RELATING TO CANNABIS. Hawaii HB 1246, RELATING TO CANNABIS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) House bill sponsored by David A. Tarnas (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-12-08 (Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1246-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Hawaii HB 1246 - State: Hawaii - Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) - Title: RELATING TO CANNABIS. - Status: failed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-22 - Last action: 2025-12-08, Carried over to 2026 Regular Session. - Sponsor: David A. Tarnas (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 12 - Subjects: DCCA, DOH, DOA, DoTax, Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office, Adult-Use Cannabis, Medical Cannabis, Hemp, Appropriations, JHA/AGR, CPC, FIN - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 2 (11 yes, 4 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary Establishes the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to regulate all aspects of the cannabis plant. Beginning 1/1/2026, legalizes the personal adult use of cannabis. Establishes taxes on the retail sale of adult-use cannabis and the sale of medical cannabis. Adds new traffic offenses relating to the consumption or possession of marijuana or marijuana concentrate. Makes conforming amendments related to the legalization of personal adult use of cannabis. Beginning 1/1/2026, decriminalizes certain drug offenses related to marijuana and marijuana concentrate. Transfers the personnel and assets of the Department of Health and assets of the Department of Agriculture relating to cannabis to the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office. Establishes various positions within state entities to regulate the personal adult use of cannabis. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1) ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: David A. Tarnas (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Terez Amato (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Della Au Belatti (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Daniel Holt (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kim Coco Iwamoto (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kirstin Kahaloa (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jeanne Kapela (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Matthias Kusch (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Nicole E. Lowen (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Lisa Marten (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Dee Morikawa (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mahina Poepoe (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Chris Todd (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-02-04 | House | The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 5 | 0 | | | 2025-02-04 | House | The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 6 | 4 | | ## Actions (9) - 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session. - 2025-02-06: Reported from JHA/AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 247) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC. (House) - 2025-02-06: Recommitted to JHA/AGR with Representative(s) Amato, Belatti, Cochran, Iwamoto, Perruso, Souza voting no and Representative(s) Ward excused. (House) - 2025-02-04: The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Kahaloa, Todd; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Perruso; 4 Noes: Representative(s) Hashem, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran. (House) - 2025-02-04: The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Kusch, Lowen, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Perruso; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward. (House) - 2025-01-28: Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA/AGR on Tuesday, 02-04-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House) - 2025-01-27: Referred to JHA/AGR, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 4 (House) - 2025-01-23: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House) - 2025-01-22: Pending introduction. (House) ## Bill text - Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1246_HD1_.pdf) - HB1246_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1246_HD1_.HTM) - Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1246_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1246_.PDF) ## Related bills - SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law) - SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed) - HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed) - HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed) - HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed) - SB 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed) ## Sources - [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1246_HD1_.pdf) - [HB1246_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1246_HD1_.HTM) - [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1246_.HTM) - [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB1246_.PDF) ## Related - [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026) - [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026) - [HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2344-2026) - [HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2023-2026) - [HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2021-2026) - [SB 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2964-2026) - [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills) - [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1246-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).