Blogger’s update: (Feb. 5th @ 4:30PM) Summaries and recommendations for the five marijuana bills that are up for hearing on Saturday have been posted in the 2015 Legislation Tracker. Draft testimony has also been completed.
In what appears to be an unprecedented move, House Health and Judiciary Committee chairs are looking to move marijuana legislation swiftly through committees (hearing notice) to avoid public comment. One bill (HB321) already had the number of public hearings reduced. It is unclear whether the House intends to do the same with other medical marijuana bills on the hearing notice. One will note that Saturday hearings are a rarity at the Legislature, especially by Karl Rhoads. Out of deference to neighbor island representatives, Rhoads generally does not vote on bills after 3:00PM on Fridays, allowing neighbor island representatives to go home for the weekend. It is clear that this is a legislative priority that demands neighbor island representatives to stay on-island for the weekend, away from their constituencies and away from their families. This post will be updated as information is available. Summaries of important bills as well as draft testimony will be posted as it becomes available. Until then, please be prepared to submit written testimony by the deadline, and those interested should make plans to attend the Saturday hearing to deliver their testimony to the joint committee. Written Testimony: Submit via the Capitol website by Friday, February 6th at 10:00AM. Oral Testimony: Room 331 at the State Capitol on Saturday, February 7th at 10:00AM. Please understand that bills are nuanced and that both analysis and draft testimony will take time.
| HB 321 | RELATING TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA. | HLT/JUD, FIN |
| Status | Establishes a system of medical marijuana dispensaries and production centers. Prohibits counties from enacting zoning regulations that discriminate against licensed dispensaries and production centers. Clarifies the right of qualifying patients and primary caregivers to transport medical marijuana. Appropriates funds. | |
| HB 788 | RELATING TO MARIJUANA. | HLT, JUD, FIN |
| Status | Authorizes the cultivation of medical marijuana. Requires registration with DOH. Requires DOH to adopt rules. Prohibits the infusion of trademarked products with medical marijuana. | |
| HB 1455 | RELATING TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA. | HLT, CPC, JUD |
| Status | Allows a qualifying patient or a primary caregiver to transfer marijuana plants or plant material to any other qualifying patient or primary caregiver. Increases the amount of marijuana that constitutes an adequate supply. Increases the maximum number of qualifying patients that a primary caregiver may care for at any given time. | |
| HB 794 | RELATING TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA. | HLT, JUD |
| Status | Provides that a physician may determine what medical condition qualifies a patient to use medical marijuana. | |
| HB 795 | RELATING TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA. | HLT, JUD |
| Status | Prohibits an employer from disciplining, suspending, discharging, or discriminating against an employee who is a patient qualified to use medical marijuana solely because the employee tested positive for marijuana use. |
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