STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1167-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2574

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2574, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow for medical marijuana patients to have more certification options by additionally permitting a board certified pain specialist physician, oncologist, ophthalmologist, or board certified palliative care physician to issue a written certification to a patient for medical marijuana treatment.

Two concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Community Alliance on Prisons; Hawaiian Standard and Green Fortunes; Big Island Americans for Safe Access; and numerous concerned individuals testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Health and several concerned individuals commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing the requirement that the certifying physician of a medical marijuana patient must be the primary care physician or other select subspecialist;

     (2)  Clarifying that the Department of Health will issue a registration card, not certificate, to medical marijuana patients who meet the medical marijuana registration requirements;

     (3)  Specifying that the Department of Health shall charge no more than $35 per year, rather than $35 per year, to any medical marijuana patient who registers with the Department of Health to obtain authorization to use marijuana for medical purposes in compliance with the law;

     (4)  Specifying requirements that the certifying physician shall adhere to in providing a written certification to a patient;

     (5)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 S.B. No. 2574, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2574, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committees on Judiciary and Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair