STAND. COM. REP. NO.  611-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 1829

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1829 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal unnecessary and duplicative prohibitions relating to medical marijuana and amend certain penalties relating to medical marijuana prohibitions to make them more commensurate with prohibitions relating to alcohol.  Specifically, this measure:

(1)  Repeals the offenses of unauthorized access to medical marijuana retail dispensing locations and production centers, respectively, and diversion from dispensing locations and production centers; and

(2)  Reclassifies penalties for individuals who fraudulently obtain or attempt to procure medical marijuana or illegally distribute medical marijuana to minors, as a petty misdemeanor and misdemeanor, respectively.

The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, Drug Policy Action Group, The Libertarian Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Dispensary Alliance, and a concerned individual supported this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Honolulu Police Department, and numerous concerned individuals opposed this measure.  A concerned individual offered comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1829 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair