Title:
Medical marijuana dispensary bill dies in conference committee
Message:
The Star Advisor reported Friday that SB 1458, a bill originally introduced to establish a
well-regulated medical marijuana dispensary program, has died for the year.
This bill took many forms throughout the legislative process that MPP
supported; however, with the latest proposed amendments
made at the last minute in a conference committee by Sen. Josh Green, we
are thankful the bill did not become law.
Sen. Green’s proposal would have severely limited the list
of qualifying conditions to
multiple sclerosis, cancer, HIV, AIDS, and glaucoma. Thousands of registered patients
who have other serious medical conditions, such as severe pain, would have been
kicked out of the program and recriminalized. The bill would have also set up a
pilot program with a single medical marijuana dispensary.
I’d
like to thank all who submitted testimony in support of the original
good
bill and the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii for their great work.
Your advocacy helped advance the bill through both chambers of the
Hawaii Legislature and sparked an important and necessary dialogue about
patient
access. It has also built a strong foundation from which to work next
year.
