STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2223

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2176

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2176 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII MEDICAL MARIJUANA OVERSIGHT COMMISSION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Beginning January 1, 2017, establish the Hawaii Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee to monitor, evaluate, and make recommendations regarding the implementation of the use, cultivation, and dispensing of medical marijuana and the overall Hawaii medical marijuana program; and

 

     (2)  Require the committee to submit a report of its findings to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and House of Representatives Committee on Health at least twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session until the committee ceases to exist on July 1, 2022.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii; Drug Policy Action Group; Effective Change, LLC; The CHOW Project; and eighteen individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Public Safety.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and two individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that chapter 329, part IX, Hawaii Revised Statutes, was enacted to create a state medical use of marijuana law and exemption from criminal sanctions.  Furthermore, chapter 329D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, was enacted to establish medical marijuana dispensaries that may begin operations in July 2016.  As Hawaii expands its medical marijuana program through the use of highly regulated and monitored dispensaries and more patients are anticipated to consider medical marijuana as a viable treatment, a collaborative commission that brings together numerous stakeholders will create a forum for input to improve the medical marijuana system in the State.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing references from the "Hawaii medical marijuana oversight committee" to the "Hawaii medical marijuana oversight commission";

 

     (2)  Amending the composition of the commission by:

 

          (A)  Removing the Director of Public Safety or the Director's designee and one physician from the commission;

 

          (B)  Adding the Executive Director of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, or the director's designee;

 

          (C)  Adding a representative from University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources;

 

          (D)  Adding a representative from the Medical Cannabis Coalition of Hawaii; and

 

          (E)  Adding a representative from the American Civil Liberties Union;

 

     (3)  Inserting language to allow the chairperson of the commission to add additional members with expertise under certain conditions; and

 

     (4)  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 Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2176, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2176, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair