Hawaii Could Be The Next State To Legalize Pot

As marijuana becomes legal in Colorado and Washington State, one of America's more tropical locales might be looking to do the same.

The Drug Policy Action Group interviewed 604 Hawaii voters last year and found that 57 percent of those surveyed were in favor of decriminalizing the use and possession of marijuana.

The study, first brought to our attention by Courthouse News Service, found that decriminalization could save the Aloha State about $9 million annually in law enforcement costs since cops won't have to spend as much time going after marijuana smokers.

While there were concerns the Obama administration might take legal action against Washington and Colorado over their new laws, the president told Barbara Walters in December that he had better things to do.

"We've got bigger fish to fry," Obama said. "It would not make sense for us to see a top priority as going after recreational users in states that have determined that it's legal."

Voters in Hawaii might not be alone in their push to legalize marijuana.

A poll conducted about a week after November's election found that 48 percent of voters favored "legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use."

The National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws has predicted that in addition to Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Alaska, Arizona, Montana, Minnesota and Nevada will consider marijuana legalization this year.

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