Two bills (SB2175 / SB2645) have been introduced in the State Senate this year that would open up industrial hemp for cultivation in Hawaii. SB2175 was promptly referred to the Agriculture and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committees while SB2645 was promptly referred to the Agriculture and Judiciary and Labor Committees. Both bills will need to pass by majority vote in their committees before the full chambers can consider them.
YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED NOW. It doesn’t matter where in Hawaii you live, take these actions today.
FOR SB2175:
1. Call the Senate Agriculture Committee Chair, Clarence K. Nishihara and the Senate Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committee Chair, Will Espero. Strongly, but respectfully urge them to move this important bill forward to a vote in their committees. A phone call has 10x the impact of an email. Some Senators appear multiple times in different committees.
Agriculture: 808-586-6970
Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs: 808-586-6360
2. Call the rest of the committee members. Again, be strong, but respectful. Urge each of them to take action to move the bill forward and vote YES on SB2175. If they do not commit to a YES vote, ask them why. If they’re undecided, let them know you’ll call back in a few days.
Senate Agriculture Committee Members:
Ronald D. Kouchi Vice Chair (D) 808-586-6030
Donovan M. Dela Cruz (D) 808-586-6090
J. Kalani English (D) 808-587-7225
Laura H. Thielen (D) 808-587-8388
Glenn Wakai (D) 808-586-8585
Sam Slom (R) 808-586-8420
Senate Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committee Members:
Rosalyn H. Baker Vice Chair (D) 808-586-6070
Brickwood Galuteria (D) 808-586-6740
Josh Green (D) 808-586-9385
Sam Slom (R) 808-586-8420
FOR SB2645
3. Call the Senate Agriculture Committee Chair, Clarence K. Nishihara and the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee Chair, Clayton Hee. Strongly, but respectfully urge them to move this important bill forward to a vote in their committees. A phone call has 10x the impact of an email. Some Senators appear multiple times in different committees.
Agriculture: 808-586-6970
Judiciary and Labor: 808-586-7330
4. Call the rest of the committee members. Again, be strong, but respectful. Urge each of them to take action to move the bill forward and vote YES on SB2645. If they do not commit to a YES vote, ask them why. If they’re undecided, let them know you’ll call back in a few days.
Senate Agriculture Committee Members:
Ronald D. Kouchi Vice Chair (D) 808-586-6030
Donovan M. Dela Cruz (D) 808-586-6090
J. Kalani English (D) 808-587-7225
Laura H. Thielen (D) 808-587-8388
Glenn Wakai (D) 808-586-8585
Sam Slom (R) 808-586-8420
Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee Members:
Maile S.L. Shimabukuro Vice Chair (D) 808-586-7793
Brickwood Galuteria (D) 808-586-6740
Sam Slom (R) 808-586-8420
Mike Gabbard (D) 808-586-6830
Malama Solomon (D) 808-586-7335
Les Ihara, Jr. (D) 808-586-6250
5. Call Back – any NO or UNDECIDED – in 3-4 days. Ask if they’ve had a chance to review the legislation and what their opposition might be. Comment below or contact us with any information you get.
6. SHARE this information widely. By facebook, twitter, email, and more.
7. Write a letter to the editor. Look up your local newspaper and submit a letter to the editor voicing your support for SB2175 and SB2645. It is essential to the economic well-being of HI that industrial hemp be legalized. Passing SB2175 and SB2645 will make that happen.
