Hearing needed to discuss Hawaii medical marijuana reform bill

SB 905, the medical marijuana reform bill, went through a substantial number of changes and compromises before eventually passing the Senate by a unanimous vote and moving on to the House. The amended bill is now known as SB 905 Senate Draft 1 (or SB 905 SD1); you can read the bill here.

The bill makes changes to the medical marijuana law to simplify certain aspects of the law for patients and physicians. For example, SB 905 SD1 would allow the use of medical marijuana in the patient's workplace, if the workplace is the home. It would redefine the term "adequate supply" to be up to seven plants and three ounces of marijuana, and it would make the application forms for patients available on the Department of Health's Web site. And the bill would provide physicians with legal protection from federal penalties by limiting their role in certifying patients.

However, certain of SB 905 SD1's changes are not good. Most significantly, while the original draft of the bill proposed to move the medical marijuana program from the Narcotics Enforcement Division of the Department of Public Safety to the Department of Health, the newer draft eliminates this change. Other significant changes include a doubling of the registration fee for patients and caregivers (from $25 to $50), maintaining the caregiver to patient ratio at 1:1 (the original bill proposed 1:3), and keeping written certifications valid for only one year (the original bill proposed 2 years).

After crossing over into the House, SB 905 SD1 was given a triple referral and as of yet has not been scheduled for a hearing. The bill was referred to the House Health/Public Safety andamp Military Affairs, Judiciary, and Finance committees.

At this point, the bill needs to be scheduled for a hearing in the House so that debate may be held and positive changes made. Better amendments could be made at a committee hearing, and the committee would have the option of incorporating the provisions of the original bill that have since been removed. Please take a moment to contact the committee chairs and urge them to hold a hearing on SB 905 SD1.

Health Committee (HLT)

Rep. Josh Green chair (808) 586-9605 or repgreen@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Rep. John Mizuno vice-chair (808) 586-6050 or repmizuno@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Public Safety andamp Military Affairs Committee (PSM)

Rep. Cindy Evans chair (808) 586-8510 or repevans@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Rep. Sharon E. Har vice-chair (808) 586-8500 or rephar@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Judiciary Committee (JUD)

Rep. Tommy Waters chair (808) 586-9450 or repwaters@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Rep. Blake K. Oshiro vice-chair (808) 586-6340 or repboshiro@capitol.hawaii.gov

Finance Committee (FIN)

Rep. Marcus R. Oshiro chair (808) 586-6200 or repmoshiro@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Rep. Marilyn B. Lee vice-chair (808) 586-9460 or replee@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Please call the committee chairs and vice-chairs today and strongly encourage them to hold a hearing on SB 905 SD1. The medical marijuana law was enacted in 2000 so let them know that seven years and over 2,500 patients later, the time is ripe to re-evaluate how the program is working and to consider improvements.

Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project. Please pass this alert on to your family and friends in Hawaii so that they, too, may become involved in reform.