Hawaii: Medical marijuana growing facility bill needs your support

HB 2678 authorizes the Department of Health to establish a secure growing facility on the island of Maui for the production of medical marijuana. The proposed facility would serve as an alternate source of medicine for registered patients and caregivers.

Qualifying patients would be eligible to lease plots inside the secure growing facility for cultivating their medicine. The proposed facility would be set up so that each plot could accommodate up to seven plants, with a maximum of 14 plots. That would allow up to 14 patients to have a safe and continuous supply of their medicine. A certified facilitator would be employed at the facility to assist patients in selecting strains, growing, and to serve as a general source of horticultural knowledge.

HB 2678 would limit the facility to a total of 98 plants, which is good because federal mandatory minimum sentences are triggered at 100 plants. HB 2678 also requires that the growing facility be secured by electric-eye technology, security cameras with a satellite uplink to enable relaying and recording of images in a local police station, motion detectors, security dogs, and two fences.

In sum, HB 2678 is a tightly drafted bill that seeks to make patients' lives easier by providing them with access to their medicine in a safe, secure environment.

HB 2678 was scheduled just yesterday for a hearing this Friday before the House Health Committee at 8:00 a.m. in House Conference Room 329. Please e-mail the members of the committee today and let them you that you support this bill.

After sending your e-mail, take a few minutes to follow up with a telephone call letting the committee members know that you would like them to support the medical marijuana growing facility bill this Friday:

Rep. Josh Green (D-6), chair — (808) 586-9605
Rep. John Mizuno (D-30), vice chair — (808) 586-6050
Rep. Karen Leinani Awana (R-44) — (808) 586-8465
Rep. Della Au Belatti (D-25) — (808) 586-9425
Rep. Joe Bertram (D-11) — (808) 586-8525
Rep. Rida T.R. Cabanilla (D-42) — (808) 586-6080
Rep. Karl Rhoads (D-28) — (808) 586-6180
Rep. Maile S. L. Shimabukuro (D-42) — (808) 586-8460
Rep. James Kunane Tokioka (D-15) — (808) 586-6270
Rep. Gene Ward (R-17) — (808) 586-6420

Click here to review some talking points that will help you leave a succinct and convincing message.

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 along with your inquiries you may have.