STAND. COM. REP. NO.  906

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 321

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 321, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a system of medical marijuana dispensaries and production centers in the State by setting, among other things:

     (1)  Production, licensing, and regulatory requirements for the establishment and operation of dispensaries and production centers;

     (2)  Public safety and health standards for the establishment and operation of dispensaries and production centers, including background check requirements, public education requirements, advertising standards, manufacturing quality and distribution standards, unauthorized uses, security standards, dispensary and production center location restrictions, and penalties for violations; and

     (3)  Administrative and financial requirements for State oversight of dispensaries and production centers, including the setting of licensing fees and procedures, training and certification standards, inventory controls, and the funding and personnel required by the State to operate the system.

The Americans for Safe Access, Big Island Chapter; Drug Policy Action Group; Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii; Green Futures; Hawaii Cannabis Care; Community Alliance on Prisons; Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs; Hawaiian Standard; Hawaii Safe Access Group; and numerous individuals supported this measure.  The Honolulu Police Department, Hawaii Police Department, Maui Police Department, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, Hawaii Catholic Conference, Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii, Patients Without Time, and several individuals opposed this measure.  The Department of the Attorney General; Department of Health; a Hawaii County Council Member; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; Hawaii Family Forum; Capitol Consultants of Hawaii, LLP; and a few individuals commented on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 321, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair