STAND. COM. REP. NO. 320

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 440

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 440 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CANNABIS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Department of Health to approve in-vehicle receipt of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products on the premises of dispensaries, subject to Administrative Rules adopted by the Department of Health.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Cannabis Industry Association; Marijuana Policy Project; Drug Policy Forum of Hawai‘i, Inc.; and Noa Botanicals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has severely impacted the ability of qualified patients to safely access medical cannabis dispensaries. Many qualified patients live with debilitating conditions that place them at acute risk of contracting COVID-19 and would benefit from the authorization of additional methods to receive medical cannabis and medical cannabis products that minimize physical contact and potential exposure to COVID-19. This measure addresses the health concerns of these vulnerable qualifying patients by authorizing the Department of Health to approve in‑vehicle receipt of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products on the premises of dispensaries.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 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 Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 440, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 440, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair