Tuesday, February 24, 2026 65° Today’s Paper
By Steve Alm
Today • Updated 6:52 p.m.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM
Honolulu City Prosecutor Steve Alm
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM
A customer visits Oahu Dispensary and Provisions on Lewers and Lauula streets in Waikiki on Sept. 12, 2025.
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There was recent news that the state Legislature was considering punting the question of legalizing marijuana for commercial sale to the voters via a constitutional amendment. Constitutional amendments should be reserved for efforts to change basic governmental operations and not for issues like commercial marijuana legislation, which would more appropriately be handled by the Legislature with hearings, informational briefings and testimony.
The core issue, however, is whether Hawaii should be moving to commercially legalize a now-very powerful drug in the first place — and there are numerous reasons why that is not a good idea.
In looking at the states that have legalized commercial marijuana, a host of problems have been revealed. A major reason for these problems is the increased potency of marijuana today. From 3%-4% THC strength in the past, marijuana now has THC of 20%-40% with concentrates over 90%. With the human brain developing until a person reaches their mid to late 20s, the current high-potency marijuana is very harmful, for example, to a 14-year-old brain, in ways that the 3% THC marijuana of years past was not.
While some adults may be able to use marijuana and avoid risky behavior like driving or operating machinery at work, for many other adults and children, marijuana causes numerous problems. Research-identified problems with marijuana include, but are not limited to:
>> Legalized states have shown an increase in recent use of marijuana by teens (12-17 year olds): 13% increase, and by young adults (18-25 year olds): 22% increase.
>> More traffic fatalities. Marijuana alters perception, causing delayed reaction time. A study of a county in Ohio found that over 40% of drivers who died in car collisions there had elevated levels of marijuana in their blood.
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>> Police have no way to test for marijuana after traffic stops. Bad driving, an arrest for DUI, and then a reading of 0.00 on HPD’s breathalyzer means that the impaired driver is then released from custody without charges.
>> Increased calls to poison control centers for babies and children consuming marijuana edibles.
>> Increased psychiatric problems including psychosis, schizophrenia, suicidal ideation, depression and paranoia.
>> Military members being kicked out for one positive test for marijuana.
>> Serious health problems. For once-a-week users, marijuana leads to a 3% increase for heart attacks and a 5% increase for strokes. For daily users, it’s a 25% increase for heart attacks and a 42% increase for strokes.
>> Using marijuana while pregnant has been linked to many adverse consequences. The active ingredient, THC, readily crosses the placenta and can impact fetal development. These negative consequences include premature births, developmental and behavioral problems, increased likelihood of requiring treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit, decreased birth weight, small size, smaller head circumferences and a higher risk of infant mortality.
>> One out of three marijuana users develops marijuana use disorder, including marijuana addiction. Following the Pareto Principle, or the 80-20 rule, these daily users, the marijuana addicts, consume the majority of marijuana in the United States. If Hawaii chooses to legalize commercial marijuana, the majority of the marijuana sold would be sold to those marijuana addicts. That means that the majority of the tax money the state would make would be from those marijuana addicts.
Further, Japanese and other Asian tourists and families from all over will be negatively impacted by marijuana legalization. Tetsuo “Ted” Kubo, president and CEO of Japan Travel Bureau (JTB), says that due to the stigma in Japan, many Japanese tourists will stop coming to Hawaii if there are marijuana dispensaries on Kalakaua Avenue and the smell of marijuana is everywhere.
Legalizing marijuana sends the terrible message to our kids that marijuana is safe or it would not be legal. That gives them permission to use marijuana themselves.
Does Hawaii really want to be in the addiction-for-profit business? Do we really want to scare away tourists? Do we really want to endanger pregnant women, drivers, and our kids?
Steve Alm is prosecuting attorney for the City and County of Honolulu.
500 Ala Moana Blvd. #2-200
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 529-4747
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