Report Title:

Medical Efficacy of Marijuana; Study

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for the University of Hawaii to study the medical efficacy of marijuana.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2871

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  In 2000, the legislature found that modern medical research had discovered a beneficial use for marijuana in treating or alleviating the pain or other symptoms associated with certain debilitating illnesses, but also recognized the need to regulate such use, for the health and welfare of our citizens.  As a result, regulation of the medical use of marijuana was enacted into law in 2000 in Act 228, Session Laws of Hawaii 2000, and codified in part IX, chapter 329, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS).

     In its mission statement, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declares that its goal is to speed along innovations that make foods and medicines more effective, safer, and more affordable.  However, the FDA does not seem to have offered much information on the use of medical marijuana to improve our health.  As a result, states have taken the initiative to find evidence to support the proposition that certain diseases and conditions may respond favorably to medically-controlled use of marijuana.

     The legislature finds that further research on the medical efficacy of marijuana is in the best interests of the state and the state's medical marijuana patients. 

     Marijuana is currently classified as a schedule I controlled substance pursuant to section 329-14, HRS, which is a category designated for substances that have no medical value.  This neither reflects the results of scientific research, past legislative action, nor the medical marijuana laws in at least eleven other states, and the legislature finds that it may be worth considering changing its classification to a schedule III controlled substance.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii to study the medical efficacy of marijuana in its various forms of delivery, including the reclassification of medical marijuana as a schedule III controlled substance.

     SECTION 2.  The University of Hawaii shall perform a study on the medical efficacy of marijuana in its various forms of delivery, including the reclassification of medical marijuana as a schedule III controlled substance.

     The various forms of delivery of medical marijuana to be studied shall include:  vaporizing, sublingual tinctures, topical ointments, edibles, and smoking.

     The University of Hawaii shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no more than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2009.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $     or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for a study on the medical efficacy of marijuana pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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