STAND. COM. REP. NO.  641-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2092

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2092 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to strengthen the Medical Use of Marijuana Law by:

(1)  Deleting the requirement that the certifying physician of a medical marijuana patient must be the primary care physician;

(2)  Clarifying that the Department of Health will issue a registration card, not a certificate, to medical marijuana patients who meet the medical marijuana registration requirements; and

(3)  Specifying that the Department of Health shall charge no more than $35 per year, rather than $35 per year, to any medical marijuana patient who registers with the Department of Health to obtain authorization to use marijuana for medical purposes in compliance with the law.

Americans for Safe Access, Community Alliance on Prisons, Drug Policy Action Group, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, and several individuals supported this measure.  The Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Honolulu Police Department, and several individuals opposed this measure.  The Department of Health and several individuals commented on this measure.  

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2092 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair