Report Title:

Medical Marijuana

Description:

Increases the number of marijuana plants allowed for medical use by a patient with written certification to 14 plants.  Creates the medical marijuana task force to discuss the value of constructing secure growing facilities for medical marijuana and study inter-island transport issues related to medical marijuana.  (HB2675 HD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2675
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

PART I

     SECTION 1.  Section 329-121, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "adequate supply" to read as follows:

     "Adequate supply" means an amount of marijuana jointly possessed between the qualifying patient and the primary caregiver that is not more than is reasonably necessary to assure the uninterrupted availability of marijuana for the purpose of alleviating the symptoms or effects of a qualifying patient's debilitating medical condition; provided that an "adequate supply" shall not exceed [three mature marijuana plants, four immature marijuana plants,] fourteen marijuana plants and one ounce of usable marijuana per [each mature] plant."

PART II

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established within the University of Hawaii for administrative purposes a medical marijuana task force.  The college of tropical agriculture and human resources shall be responsible for administering the work of the medical marijuana task force, providing a facilitator, and submitting a report to the legislature.  The goals of the task force shall be to:

(1)  Study the feasibility of safe growing facilities on each of the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, and Oahu; and

(2)  Seek possible solutions to challenges faced by qualified patients with written certification when faced with inter-island travel and the provisions of current statutory material, including federal law that prohibit travel with medical marijuana.

     (b)  The members of the medical marijuana task force shall consist of nine members as follows:

     (1)  The director of public safety or the director's designee;

     (2)  The director of health or the director's designee;

     (3)  Three members of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii;

     (4)  Three patient advocates; and

     (5)  A prescribing physician.

     (c)  The medical marijuana task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2009 regular session.

     (d)  The medical marijuana task force shall cease to exist on June 30, 2009.

PART III

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.