STAND. COM. REP. NO. 449

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1109

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1109 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MANUFACTURED HEMP PRODUCTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect public health and ensure responsible consumption of hemp-derived products by prohibiting the sale or offer for sale or distribution of any manufactured hemp product to individuals under the age of twenty-one.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Retail Merchants of Hawaii; VNV Holdings; Hawaiian Choice; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Hemptuary Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that use of untested and unapproved drugs, such as hemp-derived cannabinoid products, can have unpredictable and unintended consequences, particularly on children due to the differences in how their bodies absorb, metabolize, and distribute these substances. Your Committee further finds that the United States Food and Drug Administration has consistently determined that cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, and tetrahydrocannabinol, whether derived from hemp or cannabis, is not allowed as a dietary supplement or food under federal law. Your Committee believes that raising the minimum age for purchase of manufactured hemp products will protect the health and safety of consumers in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1109, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1109, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair