STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1560

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.R. No. 132

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.R. No. 132 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE FEDERAL DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION RECOGNIZE PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S POSITION ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA RAIDS AND STOP ENGAGING IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA RAIDS THAT CIRCUMVENT STATE LAWS PERMITTING MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this resolution is to work to stop law enforcement raids on legitimate medical marijuana providers and patients by requesting that the United States (US) Drug Enforcement Agency recognize President Barack Obama's opposition to use of federal resources for medical marijuana raids and to stop engaging in medical marijuana raids to circumvent state law.

     The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, Drug Policy Action Group of Hawaii, Americans for Safe Access – Honolulu, Hawaii Chapter, and several concerned individuals supported this resolution.  The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii supported the intent of this measure.  A concerned individual opposed this concurrent resolution.  A concerned individual submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this resolution by:

(1)  Requesting that the President and US Attorney General direct the Department of Justice's Drug Enforcement Agency to stop engaging in medical marijuana raids to circumvent state law;

(2)  Changing its title to read: "REQUESTING THE PRESIDENT AND UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION TO STOP ENGAGING IN MEDICAL MARIJUANA RAIDS THAT CIRCUMVENT STATE LAWS PERMITTING MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA";

(3)  Directing that a certified copy of this concurrent resolution be sent to the President of the United States; 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 that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 132, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Health in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 132, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

____________________________

FAYE HANOHANO, Chair