THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	545
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to medical cannabis.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that opioid abuse is a serious public health concern. According to the Center of Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, in 2016 an estimated 3,800,000 adults misused opioid medications. Studies show that the most common reason for opioid use is to relieve physical pain. Conventional pharmaceutical medications for treating opioid addiction, such as methadone and buprenorphine, can be similarly dangerous due to the substantial risks of lethal drug interactions and overdose. Other medications aimed at reducing the adverse symptoms of opioid withdrawal are not designed to treat chronic pain.

The legislature also finds that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that most cases of chronic pain be treated with non-opioid drugs. The legislature further finds that cannabis is effective in treating chronic pain, both as a supplement to and as a replacement for opioid medication. Studies have indicated that cannabis users are more likely to adhere to a course of treatment for medication-assisted relapse prevention, and are slower to develop opioid tolerance. Other states have permitted the use of cannabis in coordination with opioids and have experienced a drop in addiction and overdoses, with opioid overdose rates falling by an average of twenty-five per cent.

The purpose of this Act is to include opioid use and substance use disorders, or withdrawal symptoms resulting from the treatment of these conditions to the existing definition of "debilitating medical condition" as used in the medical use of cannabis law.

SECTION 2. Section 329-121, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "debilitating medical condition" to read as follows:

""Debilitating medical condition" means:

(1) Cancer, glaucoma, lupus, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or the treatment of these conditions;

(2) A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one or more of the following:

(A) Cachexia or wasting syndrome;

(B) Severe pain;

(C) Severe nausea;

(D) Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy;

(E) Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis or Crohn's disease; or

(F) Post-traumatic stress disorder; [or]

(3) Opioid use and substance use disorders, or withdrawal symptoms resulting from the treatment of these conditions; or

[(3)] (4) Any other medical condition approved by the department of health pursuant to administrative rules in response to a request from a physician or advanced practice registered nurse or potentially qualifying patient."

SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Medical Cannabis; Opioid Addiction; Substance Abuse; Debilitating Medical Condition

Description:

Allows the use of medical cannabis to treat opioid use and

substance use disorders, or withdrawal symptoms resulting from the treatment of those conditions.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.