Dale Kobayashi submitted the following statement to NORML on October 13, 2020. 

"I'm for recreational, tough sell here in HI, not nearly as progressive as you'd think for a heavily dem controlled legislature. Barely got decrim done, 3.5 grams. May as well not even have it at that level. Bill started at 2 oz, ended at 3.5 gr. Revenue impact the only way to sell recreational but it's about much more than that for me. About taking dealers out. Impossible for kids to buy beer, weed no problem. Dealers don't check ID. No dealers for beer because it's legal duh. Opponents cite protecting our kids, it's the opposite, And it's gateway drug, I won't argue that. Why? Because you have to go to a dealer to buy it, he's got all kinds of other stuff. Illegality makes users live in the underworld. Liquor stores don't offer you meth. Make it legal and mainstream and it's not a gateway anymore. The biggest problems all stem from criminalizing it. History will look upon this period of time with people being incarcerated for smoking a plant no different than we look at the Salem witch trials. Mass Psychosis. As a new lawmaker in a conservative district I can't be so vocal about it. Yet. But it's important and want you to know where I stand. Thank you for all you do for this country."