HONOLULU — Hawaii lawmakers will consider legalizing medical marijuana dispensaries and decriminalizing possession of small amounts of the drug.

Sen. Kalani English says he will introduce the measures during this year’s legislative session, which begins Wednesday.
The senator representing East Maui, Lanai and Molokai says he wants to legalize and tax medical marijuana dispensaries to generate money for the state. Residents with medical marijuana cards could use the dispensary to buy marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Hawaii already has a medical marijuana law that licenses patients to use the drug but does not allow them to buy it. The law allows patients to grow small amounts of marijuana for personal use.
Fourteen states have legalized medical marijuana.