STAND. COM. REP. NO. 428

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 302

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 302, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CANNABIS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Repeal the requirement that a provider-patient relationship be established in person for purposes of obtaining a certification for medical cannabis; and

(2) Allow applicants or primary caregivers to temporarily purchase medical cannabis after the submission of the applicant's certification form.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Cannabis Industry Association; Cure Oahu; Big Island Grown; Noa Botanicals; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General; Department of Health; and Akamai Cannabis Consulting.

Your Committee finds that the number of registered medical cannabis patients has been in decline since 2021. There are various issues with the registration process, particularly the number of providers participating in the certification process. This measure eases the hurdle of access to participating providers by repealing the requirement that a provider-patient relationship be established in person for purposes of obtaining a certification for medical cannabis.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that written certifications must originate from within the State;

(2) Deleting language that allowed applicants or primary caregivers to temporarily purchase medical cannabis after the submission of the applicant's certification form; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 302, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 302, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair