STAND. COM. REP. NO. 429-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1578

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1578 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CANNABIS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department of Health to approve, under certain conditions, in-vehicle receipt of medical cannabis and manufactured cannabis products on or near the premises of medical cannabis dispensaries.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Maui Grown Therapies, Marijuana Policy Project, Hawaiian Ethos LLC, and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Public Safety. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Akamai Cannabis Clinic.

Your Committee finds that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted the way in which qualifying patients can safely access the facilities that provide medical cannabis. Your Committee further finds that patients qualified to use medical cannabis often suffer from debilitating conditions that make them especially vulnerable to exposure to COVID-19. This measure provides qualifying patients with a safe alternative for flexible access to facilities that provide medical cannabis and manufactured cannabis products while minimizing their exposure to COVID-19.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1578, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1578, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair