Hawaii
Hawaii Marijuana Legalization Bill One Step Away From Senate Approval
Two legislative committees last week approved a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Hawaii, leaving the measure one step away from approval in the state Senate. The legislation, Senate Bill 3335, was approved by the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee on Friday. The next step before final approval of the bill in the Hawaii Senate is a floor vote by the full body, which could come as soon as this week, according to a report from online cannabis news source Marijuana Moment.
If passed, the legislation would legalize the use of cannabis by adults 21 and older, who would be permitted to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and up to five grams of cannabis concentrates. The bill also allows for the home cultivation of up to six cannabis plants by adults and creates a new state agency that would be tasked with regulating the commercial production and sale of marijuana and hemp.
Senate Bill 3335 and a companion measure in the House of Representatives were introduced in the Hawaii legislature by Democratic lawmakers in January. The bills are based on a recreational marijuana legalization proposal offered by Attorney General Anne Lopez last year.
Committees Approve Amendments To Bill
Before voting to approve the measure on Friday, the two Senate committees held a joint hearing to consider several amendments to the legislation. One amendment approved by the panels made a slight change to the name of the new regulatory agency, which would be called the Hawaii Hemp and Cannabis Authority to indicate its oversight of both marijuana and hemp.
Another amendment adopted by the committees eliminates the bill’s funding levels “to reflect the ongoing discussion going on at the legislature right now,” according to Democratic Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, the sponsor of the measure in the Senate and the chair of the Commerce Committee.
The committees also approved an amendment that allows those with past felony marijuana convictions to apply for licenses and employment in the regulated cannabis industry, provided at least 10 years have passed since the end of their incarceration, probation or supervised release. Another change clarifies that the possession and sale of marijuana paraphernalia is also legal under Hawaii state law.
Democratic Sen. Herbert “Tim” Richards, a Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee member, voted to support the bill with reservations.
“I think we’re really close,” Richards said at the joint hearing. “I’m going to be supporting with reservations, just because I think we still got a little bit we need to do, but I think we’re close.”
Republican Sen. Kurt Fevella said he does not support the bill “because we have no parameters, really, on how this is gonna be.”
“You guys all know I support hemp,” he added, “but with this cannabis pleasuring thing, I cannot support the bills.”
Democratic Sen. Sharon Moriwaki, a member of the Ways and Means committee, voiced concerns that the state’s medical marijuana program lacks proper procedures, according to a report from Big Island Now.
“Having this move to a pleasure cannabis gives me concern,” Moriwaki said.
Panels Hear From Groups On Both Sides Of Weed Legalization
The committees heard from groups that support cannabis legislation, although they called for changes to the bill. The ACLU of Hawaii issued a statement noting its support for legalizing recreational marijuana but said that “this draft falls short of the robust social equity and reparative justice reforms required to address the harms and collateral consequences of cannabis arrest and conviction records that last a lifetime.”
“Notably, these harms have disparately impacted Native Hawaiians,” the civil liberties advocacy group added. “Native Hawaiians do not use drugs at drastically different rates from people of other races or ethnicities, but Native Hawaiians go to prison for drug offenses more often than people of other races or ethnicities.”
Karen O’Keefe, director of state policies for the cannabis legalization advocacy group Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), said that the current draft of the bill “takes an overly punitive approach and fails to include a sufficient commitment to equity.”
“Alarmingly,” O’Keefe testified, “the bill could result in more people being ensnared in the criminal justice system for cannabis instead of less.”
The committees also heard from state agencies opposed to legalizing recreational cannabis in Hawaii. The state Department of Law Enforcement said in written testimony that it has “serious concerns” about the legislation, citing a controversial report from Colorado claiming that fatal traffic collisions that could be linked to marijuana “nearly doubled between 2013 to 2020.”
“If cannabis were to be legalized in an adult use system for Hawaii, then it is highly probable that the rate of fatal car crashes and roadway deaths in Hawaii would very likely increase, especially amongst young drivers in Hawaii,” the department wrote.
The state Department of Education expressed “strong concerns” with the legalization bill and “the potential impacts it could have,” noting that research has shown that cannabis use might impair brain development in young people. The department also cited a study that found legalizing marijuana led to an increase in youth cannabis use.
“Therefore, if Hawaii legalizes adult recreational cannabis use, it must also invest in prevention and education initiatives,” Superintendent Keith T. Hayashi said in written testimony.
The legislation gained the approval of two different Senate committees last month. The next step for the bill is a floor vote on the legislation by the full Senate. The legislation is subject to a March 7 deadline to cross over to the House of Representatives, suggesting the Senate floor vote is likely to occur this week.
Hawaii
Hannah Kobayashi: Father of missing Hawaii woman found dead in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES – This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or a loved one is feeling distressed, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The crisis center provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
The father of missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi was found dead in Los Angeles on Sunday, according to police.
Ryan Kobayashi, who had traveled to LA to help in the search for his daughter, was found dead in a parking lot near Los Angeles International Airport, authorities said. The 58-year-old’s case is listed as “open,” the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner noted on its website.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that officers responded to a call around 4 a.m. reporting a body found in the area.
Hannah Kobayashi: Missing Hawaii woman’s family continues search in LA
While police have not released information on his cause of death, the Kobayashi family said he died by suicide.
“The Kobayashi family endured a devastating tragedy today. After tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life. This loss has compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably,” the family said in a statement released through a nonprofit group helping with the search for Hannah Kobayashi.
“Hannah IS still actively missing and is believed to be in imminent danger. It is crucial for everyone to remain vigilant in their efforts to locate Hannah,” the statement read.
Hannah Kobayashi was reported missing by her family on Nov. 12 after she missed a connecting flight from Maui to New York City at LAX days earlier on Nov. 8.
Since her disappearance, the elder Kobayashi – who said he was estranged from his daughter – had spoken on behalf of his family as they begged the public for help in the search.
“I just wish I could have been there more for her. Trying to find her is everything,” he told FOX 11 during a rally outside Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles last week.
Security footage obtained by Kobayashi’s family shows her leaving the airport on Nov. 8, wearing a black hoodie, tie-dye leggings, and carrying a dark green backpack.
According to her family, Kobayashi was seen at The Grove on Nov. 9 and 10. On the 10th, Kobayashi posted to her Instagram a black-and-white photo from the two-day Nike and LeBron James event she apparently attended at the shopping center located about 14 miles north of the airport.
Family of woman who went missing on cross-country vacation says cryptic texts sent from phone unlike her
Kobayashi returned to LAX on Nov. 11 but did not board a flight, according to the family, who cited airport staffers. Kobayashi’s phone last pinged at LAX on Nov. 11.
“It’s just very unlike her to disappear,” said sister Sydni Kobayashi.
Concerns grew when family said they received “strange” messages from her cell phone that “didn’t sound like her.”
“Even in those text messages, it just didn’t seem like her or it seemed like someone else, or maybe someone did something to her to alter her state of mind, because that’s not how she normally speaks,” Sydni said.
Kobayashi is described as 5’10”, 140 lbs., with brown hair and hazel eyes. She has freckles on her face and a tattoo of a knife on her forearm, according to the LAPD.
Hannah Kobayashi: Search continues for missing Maui woman
If you see Kobayashi or have any information regarding her whereabouts, contact the LAPD at 1-877-LAPD-24-7. You can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
The Source: This story was reported with information from the Los Angeles Police Department and interviews with Hannah Kobayashi’s family. FOX 11’s Hailey Winslow contributed.
Hawaii
Father of missing Hawaii photographer Hannah Kobayashi found dead near LAX while searching for daughter
The father of the missing Hawaii woman who vanished while heading to New York City for a vacation was found dead near LAX early Sunday morning.
Ryan Kobayashi, 58, was in Los Angeles to search for his 30-year-old daughter, Hannah Kobayashi, after she missed a connecting flight to New York from Los Angeles International Airport over two weeks ago.
Police confirmed that Kobayashi died after he jumped off from a parking structure near LAX sometime around 4 a.m. on Sunday, according to NBC Los Angeles.
A nonprofit believed to be aiding in the search for Hannah also provided a statement on behalf of the family.
“The Kobayashi family endured a devastating tragedy today,” wrote the RAD Movement.
“After tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life. This loss has compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably.”
The nonprofit requested privacy for the grieving family and urged the public to focus on the search for Hannah, particularly after the tragic news about her father.
The Post has contacted the Los Angeles Police Department for comment.
On Monday, Kobayashi spoke with KTLA while in the Golden State, hoping to reach his daughter.
“I miss her,” he said. “Just want her to know that, and just want her to reach out – anything.”
Hannah flew from Maui to Los Angeles on Nov. 8, where she was supposed to hop on a connecting flight to New York for a “bucket list” trip and to visit her aunt.
However, she missed that flight 42 minutes later despite surveillance footage indicating she landed at LAX.
Her loved ones initially became worried after she sent odd texts to her family and friends before she vanished, including messaging a friend that she “got tricked into pretty much giving away all my funds.”
In another message, she claimed she was supposedly fooled by “someone I thought I loved.”
“Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f–k since Friday,” another message read.
The family previously said the texts supposedly from Hannah were not like her.
“She mentioned feeling scared, and that someone might be trying to steal her money and identity,” her aunt, Larie Pidgeon, said.
“Strange, cryptic messages – things about the matrix, it was so unlike her. And then all of a sudden, no more communication.”
Other footage showed Kobayashi at the Grove shopping center in the Fairfax District of LA on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10, as well as video of her returning to LAX but not getting on a flight on Nov. 11 before she was seen near the metro station, USA Today reported.
Her phone has been off since Nov. 11, the family said.
The family filed a police report with the LAPD, LAX authorities, and the FBI.
Hannah Kobayashi is 5 feet 10 inches tall and about 140 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes and is fair-skinned with freckles.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
Hawaii
Hawaii sees more snow than New York City this fall
MAUNA KEA, HI—An early-season snowstorm blasted the Northeast this week, dropping a foot of snow in some areas. This was the Northeast region’s first snowstorm of the season, but Hawaii has already had a few encounters with fresh powder this fall.
Winter weather arrived right on time at Hawaii’s Mauna Kea summit, home to astronomy observatory facilities from around the world. According to the Maunakea Visitor Information Station, this year, the first snow of the season fell at the 14,000-foot summit on Oct. 28.
WHICH IS THE SNOWIEST MONTH OF THE YEAR?
Unlike the tropical climate at lower elevations on the Big Island, Mauna Kea’s elevation means it experiences a different climate, including freezing temperatures and significant snowfall.
Hawaii’s wet season runs from October through April, during which snow is a familiar sight at the summit of Mauna Kea.
Back on the mainland, a winter storm arrived a week ahead of Thanksgiving and, according to the FOX Forecast Center, dropped more than a foot of snow in parts of Upstate New York and northeastern Pennsylvania.
Meanwhile, New York City has yet to see snow. But it’s still early for the Big Apple. The first measurable snow of one inch or more in New York City happens on average around Dec. 13.
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