THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

85

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING the Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation, in collaboration with the Chairpersons of the Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services and House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Homelessness, to convene the Medical and Adult Use Cannabis Working Group to research, develop, and finalize recommendations for the creation of a dual use regulatory system allowing access to medical cannabis and cannabis for adult use.

 

 


     WHEREAS, Hawaii and twenty-seven other states, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories of Guam and Puerto Rico have legalized the use of medical cannabis for the treatment of certain qualifying medical conditions; and

 

     WHEREAS, recreational cannabis has been legalized in fifteen states and the District of Columbia; and

 

     WHEREAS, according to the Marijuana Policy Project, as of February 2021, states reported a combined total of $6,900,000,000 in tax revenue from legal, adult-use marijuana sales; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State's main economic engine is tourism, and visitor numbers continue to increase year-over-year; and

 

     WHEREAS, visitors from states with legal adult recreational cannabis account for approximately one-third of the total annual visitors to Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State has a need for additional tax revenue for a number of unfunded and underfunded mandates and priorities, as well as for new investments and enterprise; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation in collaboration with the Chairpersons of the Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services and House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Homelessness, is requested to convene the Medical and Adult Use Cannabis Working Group to research, develop, and finalize recommendations for the creation of a dual use regulatory system allowing access to medical cannabis and cannabis for adult use; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Working Group is requested to be comprised of the following members:

 

     (1)  The Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, or the Chairperson's designee, who is requested to serve as co-chair;

 

     (2)  The Chairperson of the House Standing Committee on Health and Homelessness, or the Chairperson's designee, who is requested to serve as co-chair;

 

     (3)  The Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Environment, or the Chairperson's designee;

 

     (4)  The Chairperson of the House Standing Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems, or the Chairperson's designee;

 

     (5)  The Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee;

 

     (6)  The Director of Health, or the Director's designee;

 

     (7)  The Director of Agriculture, or the Director's designee;

 

     (8)  The Director of Taxation, or the Director's designee;

 

     (9)  The Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, or the Prosecuting Attorney's designee;

 

    (10)  A police chief chosen by the Hawaii Law Enforcement Coalition, or the police chief's designee;

 

    (11)  A representative of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii;

 

    (12)  A representative from the Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii; and

 

    (13)  Four qualifying patients registered with Hawaii's Medical Cannabis Registry Program, one of whom is a patient over the age of eighteen, one whom is a patient or guardian of a patient who is under the age of ten, one whom is a named caregiver of a patient, and one of whom is a representative on a licensed dispensary; and

 

    (14)  Any other participants identified in consultation with the Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation, and the Chairpersons of the Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services and House Standing Committee on Health and Homelessness; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Working Group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than ten days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Attorney General, Director of Health, Director of Agriculture, Director of Taxation, Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, and Chief of Police of the police department of each County.

Report Title: 

Medical Cannabis Dispensaries; Licensure; Report; Department of Health