CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 45

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2017

RE:    S.B. No. 786

       S.D. 1

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 786, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to replace all references to "medical marijuana" and like terms with references to "medical cannabis" and like terms in state statutes and administrative rules and Department of Health documents, letterhead, websites, and other items.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that the term "marijuana" originated as a slang term to describe the genus of plants that is scientifically known as cannabis.  However, your Committee on Conference finds that the term "cannabis" is a more accurate and appropriate term to describe a plant that has been legalized for medicinal use in the State.  Your Committee on Conference recognizes that implementation of this measure requires resources and time, and that the Department of Health's current priority is to open dispensaries and laboratories so that patients have access to medical cannabis.  It is the intent of your Committee on Conference that patients in Hawaii have access to medical cannabis and that this measure be implemented by the Department in a feasible manner.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 786, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 786, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI Co-Chair	____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER Chair
____________________________ SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO Co-Chair