STAND. COM. REP. NO. 744

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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1217, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify and strengthen the State's medical use of cannabis laws by:

(1) Prohibiting the cultivation, production, manufacturing, distribution, or dispensing of medical cannabis except by persons authorized under the State's Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Program or Medical Cannabis Dispensary Program;

(2) Restricting the number of qualifying patients who may use the same grow site to cultivate cannabis to five individuals; and

(3) Prohibiting a primary caregiver from receiving cannabis or cannabis products as compensation for acting as the primary caregiver to a qualifying patient.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Aloha Green Holdings, Inc.; Cure Oahu; and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Patients Union, Cannabis Society of Hawai‘i, Maine Craft Cannabis Association, Oahu Cannabis Farms Alliance, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that the law governing the medical use of cannabis needs to be further clarified to address existing gaps that allow for controversial practices. This measure implements those necessary clarifications.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Exempting from the limitation against more than five qualifying patients using any location to cultivate cannabis those qualifying patients who obtain a written exemption from the Department of Health; 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1217, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1217, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair