STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2522

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2659

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2659 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase access to medical cannabis by changing references from transdermal patches to transdermal devices, and by adding cannabinoid suppositories to the list of manufactured cannabis products that may be manufactured and distributed by dispensaries.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, Hawaii Educational Association for Licensed Therapeutic Healthcare, Kine Bottles, and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that the list of medical cannabis products that may be manufactured and distributed pursuant to section 329D-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, omits potentially viable products, including non-patch transdermal devices and cannabinoid suppositories, which have been recommended for inclusion on the list by the medical cannabis legislative oversight working group convened pursuant to Act 230, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016.

Your Committee has heard support from various stakeholders and the concerns of the Department of Health with respect to the efficacy of cannabinoid suppositories. Your Committee finds that there was much compelling testimony presented on both sides, and that further debate on the merits is warranted.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments 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. 2659, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2659, 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