STAND. COM. REP. NO. 554

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 786

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 786 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the Hawaii Revised Statutes and Hawaii Administrative Rules to substitute references to "medical marijuana" and like terms with "medical cannabis" and like terms.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, Drug Policy Action Group, and three individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Taxation and Department of Health.

     Your Committee finds that the term "marijuana" originated as a slang term to describe the genus of plants that is scientifically known as cannabis.  Your Committee further 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 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.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Including section 237-24.3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, in the statutory sections referenced that shall be amended to reference "medical cannabis" instead of "medical marijuana" and like terms;

     (2)  Clarifying that the Hawaii Administrative Rules shall be construed as having been amended to reflect the use of the term "medical cannabis" by operation of law;

     (3)  Inserting language to require the Department of Health to revise all documents, letterhead, websites, and other necessary items to reflect the use of "medical cannabis" and like terms as the documents, letterhead, websites, and other necessary items otherwise require revision, replacement, or reprinting; provided that all conforming revisions shall be completed by December 31, 2019; and

     (4)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 786, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 786, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair