STAND. COM. REP. NO. 984

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1217

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1217, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Prohibit the cultivation, production, manufacture, distribution, possession, or dispensation of medical cannabis except by qualifying patients, qualifying out-of-state patients, their authorized primary caregivers, or medical cannabis dispensaries;

(2) Restrict the number of qualifying patients who may use a grow site to five, unless an exemption is obtained from the Department of Health; and

(3) Prohibit the receipt of cannabis or cannabis products as compensation for acting as a primary caregiver to a qualifying patient.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health and Cure Oahu. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Kauai Farm Planning, Care Waialua, GreenWave Consulting, Hawaii Cannabis Union, Hawaii Cannabis Hui, Cannabis Society of Hawai‘i, 329islandtours, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Akamai Cannabis Consulting and two individuals.

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. 1217, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair