STAND. COM. REP. NO. 405

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 542

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 542 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to update Schedule V of the State Uniform Controlled Substances Act to make it consistent with amendments in the federal controlled substances law as required under Hawaii law. Specifically, this measure removes the prescription drug Epidiolex and approved generic versions of that drug that contain cannabidiol derived from cannabis and no more than 0.1 percent (w/w) residual tetrahydrocannabinols from Schedule V of the State Uniform Controlled Substances Act.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety and Greenwich Biosciences. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Akamai Cannabis Clinic.

Your Committee finds that Epidiolex was approved by the Federal Drug Administration to treat seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaux syndrome, Dravet syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex. Your Committee further finds that this measure should not be construed to change the legal status of cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinols, and other cannabis-related constituents, except for the approved prescription drugs indicated above.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 542 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair