STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2342

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2011

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2011 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow and appropriate funds for the University of Hawai‘i John A. Burns School of Medicine, with support from the Department of Health, to collect data from voluntary qualifying patients, maintain a database, and conduct research and development regarding the efficacy of medical cannabis use in the State and related health outcomes.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committees find that as Hawai‘i expands its medical cannabis program, it is important that research and development on medical cannabis best practices continues, including the results and outcomes of its use among qualifying patients. The Department of Health is not currently collecting data on the usage, dosage, or results of medical cannabis use among qualifying patients. Such data is invaluable to continued medical research in understanding the benefits of medical cannabis treatment for various illnesses, ailments, diseases, injuries, and other medical issues. Therefore, data collection and research and development conducted by the University of Hawai‘i John A. Burns School of Medicine, in conjunction with the Department of Health, on the results of medical cannabis treatment among qualifying patients would be of great value to the State in developing alternative strategies to treating various illnesses and ailments.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2011 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair