Hawaii voters support legalizing recreational cannabis but are divided on legalizing gambling

According to Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s latest Hawaii Poll, a majority of Hawaiians support legalizing recreational cannabis to increase tax revenue for the state, but are divided on legalizing gambling for the same reason.

Of those surveyed, 58% said they support legalizing recreational cannabis to generate tax revenue, while 34% opposed it and 8% were undecided.

Wailuku pollster Elizabeth Toledo supports legalization.

“There are people here in Hawaii who are going to smoke it anyway, and it’s a prime area to grow it. So I would think they would make really good earnings,” she said. “You should try to make some money off it instead of making it on the black market.”

Hawaii decriminalized carrying up to three grams of cannabis in 2019, meaning a person caught by police faces a violation and a fine of up to $130. Penalties for violation do not include imprisonment.

The state also legalized medicinal cannabis in 2000, but did not establish a dispensing program until 2015.

During the last legislature there have been efforts to legalize recreational cannabis. The State Senate passed a measure that would have allowed possession of up to 30 grams of cannabis. However, the state House of Representatives did not hear the bill and it stalled.

According to the survey, men and those under the age of 50 were more likely to support legalization of recreational cannabis, with 62% supporting legalization versus 54% of women. Sixty-eight percent of those under 50 supported legalization.

Democrats were more supportive of legalization than Republicans, responding with 70% approval versus 41%.

Governor David Ige, a Democrat, has not supported the legalization of recreational cannabis. Of the top three Democrats running for governor in 2022, both Kai Kahele and Josh Green support legalization, but Vicky Cayetano does not.

Of the Republican frontrunners running for governor, only BJ Penn supported legalizing recreational cannabis. The former Lt. gov. James “Duke” Aiona and Gary Cordery opposed legalization, while Heidi Tsuneyoshi said it should be left to the public.

Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy of Washington, DC conducted the poll July 12-17. A total of 800 registered Hawaii voters were surveyed nationwide via landline and mobile phones. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Response to legalizing gambling to generate tax revenue was more evenly distributed among respondents.

The Hawaii poll found that 45% supported legalizing gambling, while 50% opposed it.

State legislatures introduced several measures to legalize gambling this year. Various proposals including establishing a state lottery system, permitting a rooftop casino at the Hawai’i Convention Center, and permitting online fantasy games.

The tax revenue would have gone to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to address the long backlog of native Hawaiians waiting for homes. However, none of the measures made it very far through the legislative process.

Male respondents were much more supportive of gambling legalization than women, with 56% of men supporting gambling legalization compared to just 36% of women.

Honolulu pollster Stephen Stansel says he supports legalizing gambling.

“It would generate more revenue for tourism and likely attract a larger tourist crowd,” he said.

On the issue of legalizing gambling, voters from the two major parties were rarely unanimous: nearly 46% of Democrats support gambling legalization, compared to 45% of Republicans.