STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1354-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.R. No. 51

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.R. No. 51 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING A SUNRISE REVIEW OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SYSTEM OF REGISTERED DISPENSARIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO DISPENSE MEDICAL MARIJUANA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a sunrise review of the establishment of a system of registered dispensaries within the Department of Health to dispense medical marijuana as proposed in H.B. No. 1587, Regular Session of 2014, pursuant to section 26H-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes.  The Auditor is requested to include in the sunrise review:

(1)  The qualifications, duties, and responsibilities for medical marijuana dispensaries;

(2)  The registration requirements that medical marijuana dispensaries may need in order to possess and cultivate medical marijuana;

(3)  The registration requirements for qualifying patients and primary caregivers to use and obtain services from medical marijuana dispensaries;

(4)  The registration, to include criminal record checks, of dispensary agents who must be registered with the Department of Health prior to working at a dispensary; and

(5)  The protections to be afforded to qualifying patients, primary caregivers, dispensaries, and dispensary agents.

     The Community Alliance on Prisons, the Drug Policy Action Group, the Big Island Chapter of Americans for Safe Access, and several individuals supported this measure.  The Honolulu Police Department and the Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii opposed the measure.  One individual provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 51 and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair