House Committee on Judiciary (JUD) - chair: Karamatsu, vice chair: Ito

Tuesday, February 17, 2009, 2:00 P.M. Conference Room 325

Testifier: Suzanne Meisenzahl, LWV of Hawaii, Chair, Women's Health and Safety Committee

Click here to view HB1635

Position: Opposed Thank you for the opportunity to testify on this bill which establishes new record keeping requirements and establishes penalties: amends and adds definition; requires physical examination of a patient by a physician; and increases penalties relating to medical marijuana to Class C Felonies. The League of Women Voters completed a Hawaii Drug Policy Report in August of 2008. In October of 2008 the League state board unanimously adopted a drug policy position. The report and our position are accessible from the home page of our website. In the report we note that since Hawaii first established the medical marijuana program in 2000, it has grown to encompass 4,200 patients. Our report suggests improvements to the current program to make it more accessible to these patients, increase the participation of physicians, and enable it to effectively address patients’ medical needs while respecting their right as law abiding (and ill) citizens. This bill does not meet the criteria of making the program more approachable and user-friendly.