Hawaii: Gov. Lingle's veto of medical marijuana task force bill shortchanges Hawaii patients

Flip-flopped. Reneged. Deceived. Lied. Conned. Bamboozled. Hoodwinked. However you want to characterize it, Gov. Linda Lingle has gone back on her word to the citizens of Hawaii.

Last week, Gov. Linda Lingle (R) vetoed HB 2675, which would have established a temporary task force comprised of state officials, physicians, and patients to examine critical issues affecting Hawaii's medical marijuana program. Although the Senate voted overwhelmingly (21-1) to override Gov. Lingle's veto, the House failed to follow suit, which means that questions regarding adequate supply, growing facilities, and the inter-island transport of medical marijuana will remain unanswered for at least another year.

Gov. Lingle's veto is directly at odds with a 2002 campaign pledge to uphold Hawaii's medical marijuana law. In her official veto statement, Gov. Lingle claims that since the federal government doesn't recognize the medical value of marijuana, anything Hawaii does to improve the state's medical marijuana law is therefore improper. Gov. Lingle also tries to convince the public — and perhaps herself — that "requiring the task force to be administratively attached to the University of Hawaii is inappropriate."

Obviously, Gov. Lingle did not take the time to educate herself on current medical marijuana policy or she would have known that the federal government grows medical marijuana at the University of Mississippi, distributes it monthly to patients throughout the U.S., and has done so for 30 years. Even the most cursory investigation into the issues surrounding state versus federal law as it relates to medical marijuana would have made clear the appropriateness of, and need for, HB 2675.

Not only does Gov. Lingle's reasoning clearly conflict with the promise she made to Hawaii voters less than four years ago, it is shoddy, misleading, full of half-truths, and contrary to stances she has taken on other issues.

Consider this: In 2004, when she was still campaigning for a second term, Gov. Lingle sided with the state of Hawaii in a case against Chevron, who was contesting the state legislature's recent passage of a law that sought to impose rent controls on oil companies. Gov. Lingle, alongside the state of Hawaii, argued to the U.S. Supreme Court that the rent control law should stand and not be overturned because allowing Hawaii to set its own policy would "preserve the states as laboratories with freedom to conduct novel social and economic experiments." 

Cleary, Gov. Lingle is confused about what "states' rights" actually means and is less than consistent when it comes to deciding which "social experiments" are worthy of her blessing. Perhaps a few light discussions among political pundits and scattered internet buzz about Gov. Lingle's viability as a vice presidential candidate have gone to her head and now has her courting the current administration, and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), by mimicking their blind denial of the medical efficacy of marijuana.

Please e-mail Gov. Lingle and let her know that politicians who are in the business of breaking promises to their constituents are not held in high regard. You can also call Gov. Lingle's office at (808) 586-0034 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to let her know how disappointed you are in her failure to honor Hawaii's medical marijuana law.

Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project and all of our allies. If you have any questions about marijuana policy reform in Hawaii, please send an e-mail to Nathan@mpp.org.