HONOLULU -- Marijuana could be sold legally and have its own tax under a proposal approved Tuesday by a state Senate committee.

Right now, the patient or a caregiver can only grow Hawaii's medical marijuana. It cannot be sold so some patients cannot get the marijuana.

Some states allow stores to supply patients.

The Senate Public Safety committee on Tuesday voted to let counties allow dispensaries called "Compassion Centers."

The price of the pot would be not be controlled and it would be taxed at $30 per ounce.

"With this we are trying to gain control of marijuana and we are trying to say we are trying to share in the profits of this as well," Sen. J. Kalani English said.

The dispensaries would grow the marijuana for their customers and only people with medical marijuana permits would be allowed to buy it.

The county and state government would split the marijuana tax.