STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3160

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 45

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.R. No. 45 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE LEGISLATURE TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO RESEARCH, DISCUSS, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING EDIBLE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PRODUCTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Legislature to convene a working group to research, discuss, and make recommendations regarding edible medical marijuana products.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Drug Policy Forum of Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Dispensary Alliance; Hawaii Association of Professional Nurses; Ho‘omana Pono, LLC; Kush Bottles Hawai‘i; Drug Policy Action Group; and fourteen individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Transportation, Legislative Reference Bureau, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that chapter 329D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, was enacted pursuant to Act 241, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, to establish medical marijuana dispensaries that may begin operations in July 2016.  As Hawaii expands its medical marijuana program through dispensaries, it is important that continuous research and discussion occur pertaining to medical marijuana best practices, including issues related to manufactured marijuana products.  While the types of manufactured marijuana products permitted to be manufactured by medical marijuana dispensaries are limited to the types enumerated in section 329D-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, recommendations on whether to also allow edible medical marijuana products may be beneficial.

     Your Committee notes that House Bill No. 2707, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, Regular Session of Hawaii 2016, establishes, among other things, a legislative oversight working group to develop and recommend legislation to improve the medical marijuana dispensary system in the State by addressing issues related to the operations of medical marijuana dispensaries, including whether to include edibles as a manufactured marijuana product.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding the Director of Transportation, or the Director's designee, as a member of the working group; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 45, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 45, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair