STAND. COM. REP. NO. 727-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 1893

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1893 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to include the medical use of cannabidiol products as allowable medical uses of cannabis for the treatment of opioid use disorder.

Hawaii Advocates for Consumer Rights, Greenwich Biosciences, Epilepsy Foundation, Epilepsy Foundation of Hawaii, Dravet Syndrome Foundation, Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Foundation, Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, and a few of concerned individuals offered testimony in support of this measure. The Department of the Attorney General, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, and a few concerned individuals offered testimony in opposition. The Department of Public Safety provided comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and replacing them with provisions to make the medical use of cannabidiol lawful upon the approval of its use as a prescription drug by the Federal Food and Drug Administration.

Your Committee notes that concerns were raised by the Department of the Attorney General as to whether the language of this measure is sufficient to fulfill its purpose. After conducting additional research, the Deputy Attorney General shall send a letter to members of your Committee on Health & Human Services and the Chair of your Committee on Judiciary to clarify the opinion of the Department. Specifically, the letter shall address:

(1) Whether Section 329-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, authorizes the Department of Public Safety to approve the medical use of cannabidiol upon Food and Drug Administration approval; and

(2) If Section 329-121, Hawaii Revised Statutes, may prohibit the Department of Public Safety from approving the medical use of cannabidiol.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1893, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1893, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair