STAND. COM. REP. NO. 533-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2572

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. 2572 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE MEDICAL USE OF CANNABIS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify that the medical use of cannabis does not violate federal law by exempting medical cannabis from scheduling as a schedule I controlled substance.

The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and several concerned individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. Maui Police Department and a few individuals oppose this measure. The Department of the Attorney General and one concerned individual offered comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting new language convening a Medical Cannabis Study Group to examine the complexities surrounding the legalization of medical cannabis.

Your Committee notes that the Medical Cannabis Study Group is tasked with researching and reporting on the legality of medical cannabis. Since the release of the United States Attorney General's January 4, 2018 Memorandum For All United States Attorneys titled "Marijuana Enforcement" there has been an increased need to determine how federal policy may affect Hawaii's approximately twenty thousand medical cannabis patients, the numerous licensed dispensaries, Department of Health, and Department of Public Safety. This Study Group has the potential to provide information that is of national interest.

Your Committee notes that there are numerous resources readily available to provide information for the Medical Cannabis Study Group including: The National Conference of State Legislatures, Council of State Governments, Department of the Attorney General, Legislative Research Bureau, House Majority Staff Office, House Minority Research Office, and the Senate Majority Office

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. 2572, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2572, 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