STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3040

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2675

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2675, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a Medical Marijuana Task Force within the University of Hawaii for administrative purposes to examine current medical marijuana laws regarding adequate supply for qualified patients, developing safe growing facilities, and solutions for inter-island travel.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Representative from the 11th Representative District; the Marijuana Policy Project; The Drug Policy Forum; and six individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Public Safety, the City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, the Honolulu Police Department, and the Hawaii Medical Association.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii's medical marijuana program that was established in 2000 has been successful for qualifying patients who are licensed for the use of medical marijuana.  However, since the program was put into practice issues have been raised concerning access to adequate supply for qualified patients, distinguishing between mature and immature plants under the law, the feasibility of establishing safe growing facilities, and problems encountered with inter-island travel.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by broadening the scope of the task force to include:

     (1)  The examination of all issues and obstacles that qualifying patients have encountered in the application of the medical marijuana program;

     (2)  Research of advances made by other states regarding medical marijuana laws and programs; and

     (3)  The examination of current laws regarding any implications of removing the distinction between mature and immature plants.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2675, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2675, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair