STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3577

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2729

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2729, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to facilitate the safe use of cannabis for medical purposes within the State.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, Hawaii Educational Association for Licensed Therapeutic Healthcare, Kush Bottles Hawaii, Maui Grown Therapies, and two individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the General Contractors Association of Hawaii.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Health, and Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Your Committee believes that this measure will help qualifying patients access medical cannabis in a manner that maintains the integrity and safety of the medical cannabis distribution system established in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Correcting cross references to sections of the Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Requiring dispensaries to deny employment to any individual who has been convicted of murder in any degree; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2729, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2729, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair