STAND. COM. REP. NO. 436

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 682

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 682 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit discrimination against medical marijuana patients and caregivers by schools, landlords, employers, courts, and licensing boards, or with regard to medical care or parental rights.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Green Futures; Drug Policy Action Group; Alternative Pain Management Puuhonua, LLC; Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii; Hawaii Cannabis Care; Sacred Truth Mission; Community Alliance on Prisons; Americans for Safe Access, Big Island Chapter; and thirty-three individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the City and County of Honolulu and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Department of the Attorney General, Hawaii Catholic Conference, Hawaii Family Forum, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that support for the medical use of marijuana in the State is strong, but existing protections for patients are very weak regarding civil penalties.  Patients within the medical marijuana program should not be less secure in their housing, school enrollment, employment, or supplemental medical care than patients who have made different private decisions with their doctors concerning medication.

 

     Your Committee has heard the testimony of the Department of the Attorney General expressing concerns related to the federal restrictions of marijuana and certain occupations, such as medical first responders or those who are required to carry a firearm.  Your Committee finds that this issue raises concerns that merit further consideration and requests that your Committee on Judiciary and Labor further examine those issues and concerns if it chooses to hear this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 682, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 682, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair