HILO » A Hawaii County Council committee has voted against a resolution seeking to decriminalize marijuana despite a councilman's threat to resign if his measure failed.

Councilman Kelly Greenwell decided Tuesday to stay even though only one other colleague voted for the resolution, which failed to gain the support of seven others.

“;I'm going to take back what I said about resigning from this council. And the reason,”; he said, addressing supporters, “;is because of you. I'm not going to be a Sarah Palin. The hell with them who don't want to vote this way. I'm going to stick with you guys, and we're going to get this done.”;

The resolution, which asks the state Legislature to decriminalize the drug, now moves to the full council with a negative recommendation.

The vote came after 48 people, evenly split 24-24, testified on the resolution before the Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations, composed of all nine council members.

Supporters of the measure spoke of the “;prison-industrial complex”; and the failed war on drugs.

“;Decriminalization would be better than arresting people for marijuana,”; Barbara Lang said. She said that “;the war on marijuana continues to do great harm.”;

County Prosecuting Attorney Jay Kimura opposed the measure, saying, “;Marijuana is illegal, harmful, addictive, damaging, and it is a destructive force in our community.”;

Greenwell lashed out against those who opposed his measure, saying he had heard “;some of the most ridiculous logic.”;

Council members had urged Greenwell not to resign.

After hearing from his colleagues, Greenwell apologized for getting worked up.