STAND. COM. REP. NO. 608-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2260

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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2260, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CANNABIS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Amend the circumstances under which medical cannabis may be transported by and between dispensaries;

(2) Increase the number of production centers and retail dispensing locations that may be allowed under a dispensary license;

(3) Redefine the term "medical cannabis production center" to include any series of structures located within the same secured perimeter fence-line;

(4) Increase the allowable number of plants for production centers;

(5) Require the Department of Health to establish the fee structure for the submission of applications for additional production centers and retail dispensing locations and dispensary-to-dispensary sales; and

(6) Amend the Department of Health's duties with respect to the establishment of standards for manufactured cannabis products.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Cannabis Industry Association; Aloha Green Holdings, Inc.; Maui Grown Therapies; Hawaiian Ethos; Green Aloha Ltd.; and Lau Ola LLC, dba Big Island Grown Dispensaries. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Care Waialua Farm. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Akamai Cannabis Clinic, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the State's Medical Cannabis Program was established to provide medical relief for seriously ill individuals in the State and ensure safe and legal access to medical cannabis for qualifying patients. Your Committee further finds that the Medical Cannabis Program needs to be updated to increase patient access, strengthen product controls and safety, and provide improvements to the administration of the program. This measure enhances quality assurance by updating the existing program and requiring the Department of Health to establish additional manufacturing and product stability standards for the manufacture of medical cannabis products.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2260, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair