STAND. COM. REP. NO.  196

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1635

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.B. No. 1635 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to amend statutory law relating to medical marijuana by:

 

     (1)  Establishing new recordkeeping requirements and                    penalties;

 

     (2)  Amending the definitions of "debilitating medical              condition", "usable marijuana", and "written                   certificate";

 

     (3)  Requiring a physical examination of the patient by the         prescribing physician; and

 

(4)  Increasing the penalty for fraudulent misrepresentation to a class C felony.

 

     The Department of Public Safety, Honolulu Police Department, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the County of Maui, and Maui Police Department testified in support of this bill.  The American Civil Liberties Union, Drug Policy Forum, Drug Policy Action Group, Americans for Safe Access-Big Island Chapter, and many concerned individuals testified in opposition to this measure.  A concerned individual provided comments.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1635 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

FAYE HANOHANO, Chair