Report Title:

Medical Marijuana; Task Force

Description:

Creates the medical marijuana task force to examine issues regarding adequate supplies of medical marijuana for qualified patients, distinguishing between mature and immature plants under current law, the feasibility of constructing secure growing facilities for medical marijuana patients to use to produce their medicine, and study inter-island travel issues related to medical marijuana.  (SD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2675
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

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

     SECTION 1.  (a)  There is established within the University of Hawaii for administrative purposes a medical marijuana task force.  The college of tropical agriculture and human resources shall be responsible for administering the work of the medical marijuana task force, providing a facilitator, and submitting a report to the legislature.  The goals of the task force shall be to:

     (1)  Examine current laws regarding the adequate supply of marijuana for medical use to ensure sufficient amounts of medication for a qualified patient's needs, including any implications of removing the distinction between mature and immature plants;

     (2)  Study the feasibility of developing safe growing facilities on each of the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, and Oahu for qualified patients with written certification to grow medical marijuana for their medical use;

     (3)  Seek possible solutions to challenges faced by qualified patients with written certification when faced with inter-island travel, resulting from statutory prohibitions, including federal law that prohibits travel with medical marijuana;

     (4)  Examine all issues and obstacles that qualifying patients have encountered in the application of the medical marijuana program; and

     (5)  Research advances made by other states regarding medical marijuana laws and programs.

     (b)  The members of the medical marijuana task force shall consist of eleven members as follows:

     (1)  The director of public safety or the director's designee;

     (2)  The director of health or the director's designee;

     (3)  The director of transportation or the director's designee;

     (4)  The attorney general or the attorney general's designee;

     (5)  Three members of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii as designated by the chairperson of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii;

     (6)  Three patient advocates to be appointed as follows:

         (A)  One appointed by the governor;

         (B)  One appointed by the president of the senate; and

         (C)  One appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

     (7)  A prescribing physician as designated by the board of medical examiners established under chapter 453, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     (c)  The medical marijuana task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2009 regular session.

     (d)  The medical marijuana task force shall cease to exist on June 30, 2009.

     SECTION 2.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.