Hawaii Senator Votes ‘No’ Then ‘Yes’ To Legalize Marijuana

The Hawaii Capitol can be full of surprises.

At a joint hearing Thursday, Republican Sen. Brenton Awa first voted “no” then voted “yes” on a bill that would legalize marijuana in Hawaii.

Awa said he supports legalizing marijuana. In fact, he helped introduce Senate Bill 375. The measure would set up a regulatory scheme to allow licensed dispensaries to sell recreational pakalolo.

But when the measure went before the Senate Human Services and Commerce and Consumer Protection committees, Awa, one of the chamber’s two Republicans, voted both ways.

The Human Services Committee went first. Sens. Joy San Buenaventura and Henry Aquino voted “yes” (technically, Aquino voted “with reservations,” but that counts as an affirmative vote). Awa voted “no.” Sens. Sharon Moriwaki and Maile Shimabukuro, the other members of the committee, were absent. The bill passed that committee 2-to-1.

But things were different moments later when the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee voted. Sens. Jarrett Keohokalole and Carol Fukunaga voted “yes,” Sen. Angus McKelvey was absent, and Sen. Herbert “Tim” Richards voted “no.”

Awa paused for a few seconds. The vote would be tied if he cast a “no” vote which could put the measure in jeopardy of missing a key legislative deadline on Friday.[Read more at Honolulu Civil Beat]