STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3175

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 2586

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2586, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to permit qualifying patients to be reimbursed by health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations for amounts spent on medical cannabis and manufactured cannabis products.

 

     Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of the Attorney General, Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund Board of Trustees, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Akamai Cannabis Clinic.

 

     Your Committees find that a legislative oversight working group was established by Act 230, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016, to develop and recommend legislation to improve the medical cannabis dispensary system in the State to ensure safe and legal access to medical cannabis for qualifying patients.  One of the topics considered by the working group was the potential for medical cannabis to be reimbursable via health insurance and workers' compensation.  Accordingly, Act 161, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, established the Medical Cannabis Insurance Reimbursement Working Group to address the complexities surrounding the topic of making medical cannabis reimbursable by health insurance.  The working group submitted a report of its findings prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2019.  This measure further promotes increased access to medical cannabis by allowing qualifying patients to receive reimbursement for medical cannabis and manufactured cannabis product expenses.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2586, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair