STAND. COM. REP. NO.  968-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2675

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2675, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure qualified patients with written certification for the use of marijuana for medical purposes are able to gain adequate access to their medicine by:

(1)  Increasing the number of marijuana plants allowed for medical use by a patient with written certification to 14 plants; and

(2)  Creating the Medical Marijuana Task Force (Task Force) to discuss the value of constructing secure growing facilities for medical marijuana and study inter-island transport issues related to medical marijuana.

     The Representative of the 11^th District, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, Drug Policy Action Group, West Oahu Hope For A Cure Foundation, and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Department of Public Safety, Honolulu Police Department, County of Hawaii Police Department, County of Maui Police Department, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Association, Sassy/G Magazine, and Save our Society from Drugs opposed this measure.  A concerned individual submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Deleting provisions that would increase the number of marijuana plants allowed for medical use by a patient with written certification to 14 plants;

(2)  Calling for the Task Force to examine current laws that define an adequate supply of marijuana for medical use by a qualified patient, to determine if there is a need to change this definition;

(3)  Adding representatives from the Department of Transportation and the Department of the Attorney General to the Task Force; and

(4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2675, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2675, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs,

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair