cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Bill Appears Stalled Medical Marijuana Bill Appears Stalled Posted by CN Staff on March 22, 2004 at 07:42:09 PT By Helen Altonn Source: Star-Bulletin A Senate bill to transfer the state medical marijuana program from the Department of Safety to the Department of Health appears stymied this session. The Senate passed SB 2641, SD2, on a vote of 22 to 1, with Sen. Cal Kawamoto (D, Waipahu) the only opponent.But Rep. Ken Ito (D, Heeia-Kaneohe), House Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee chairman, said he does not plan to hold a hearing on the bill. He said both departments strongly oppose the transfer, "and when you get two departments testifying strongly against it, you know there is going to be a veto message" by the governor.Eight states, including Hawaii, have medical marijuana laws, and the program is in the health department in all other states except Nevada, which has it in the agriculture department, said Pamela Lichty, president of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii."We're disappointed that Rep. Ito has apparently decided not to hear it, because we think it's clearly a health issue and belongs in the Department of Health," Lichty said.The Senate Ways and Means Committee reported that it finds legal use of marijuana for therapeutic medicine is a health issue, rather than a public safety issue.It said the Health Department would allow "severely ill patients better access to compassionate care and a broader range of physician assistance, without compromising the level of oversight." Patients also would be less intimidated registering with the Health Department, the committee report said.In other states, it said the health departments work with public safety departments to give them access to the patient registry if verification is needed.Ito said the Health Department does not have funds or enforcement powers to run the program, and the Department of Public Safety feels "they're better equipped and qualified to enforce it."He said the program should stay in Public Safety "just to be a little on the safe side. ... I think they do an excellent job. As long as we keep it there, we can rest assured a lot of abuses won't occur."About 1,260 Hawaii patients and 144 caregivers are registered with the Public Safety Department's Narcotics Enforcement Division to use and grow marijuana for medical purposes.Lichty said the U.S. General Accounting Office looked at the program in Hawaii and three other states a couple years ago and found effects on law enforcement here were negligible because so few people were registered.She said putting the program in the Health Department would ensure that the issue is dealt with by health experts rather than law enforcement officials.Health departments in other states put information on a Web site, "whereas Public Safety has done absolutely nothing to inform people who inquire," she said. "They send out a one-page memo with all sorts of warnings. It is intimidating."She said the 4-year-old program has had few problems. "It is appropriate to make some changes."Note: A proposal to transfer a state program won't be granted a hearing.SB 2641, SD2: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/SB2641_SD2_.htmSource: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI)Author: Helen AltonnPublished: Monday, March 22, 2004 Copyright: 2004 Honolulu Star-BulletinContact: letters starbulletin.comWebsite: http://www.starbulletin.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Drug Policy Forum of Hawaiihttp://www.dpfhi.org/Pot Bill Hits Legislature http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18302.shtml1,039 Register for Isle Pot Use http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17545.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by DevoHawk on March 22, 2004 at 17:39:53 PT pleeze What is Bush's stance on Cannabis? Why does he belong in the WhiteHouse and while other belong in jail for doing the same thing. Bush has got to go. I can see not supporting Kerry but Bush is a spoiled brat and I can't say I have ever heard one positive thing he's ever done related to Cannabis. Please, I'd be curious if anyone in the whole world can name one thing Bush has done that is Pro-Cannabis. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by psthbng on March 22, 2004 at 15:51:23 PT: Response to Nuevo Mexican We know where Bush stands and he can be shown the folly of his ways. Kerry wants to raise taxes, turn our military over to the United Nations, and give up our sovereignty to globalization. (He ignored terrorism for months, when maybe we could have done something to stop 9-11)What?? Turn loose a battalion of snipers and incur the wrath of the rest of the civilized world? Pleeze [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by drfistusa on March 22, 2004 at 11:49:51 PT Please send E-mail to Rep ITO ! Help the cause! Aloha to everyone, please send a e-mail to Rep. Ito at the following E-mail address. It is wrong for him to hold this bill in his "Public safety and Military" committee and not even allow a vote, when it was passed with only one desenting vote in the Senate, He is trying to represent state agencies and special interests and not the citizens of his district or this state. We need to keep the Cops out of peoples medical problems. Or maybe we need to put them in charge of , asprin and tylenol too. Take a min. and add your word! please. Support for SB2641 SD2repito Capitol.hawaii.gov [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on March 22, 2004 at 10:32:39 PT Nuevo Mexican No problem and I understand. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Nuevo Mexican on March 22, 2004 at 10:20:00 PT FOM: please remove 1st post, sorry! I'm am seriously fired up today, the American people better throw this rascal out now, or forever be shamed! Peace! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Nuevo Mexican on March 22, 2004 at 10:17:36 PT C-Span NOW: 911 citizens watch conference LIVE! Check it out, when bush falls, prohibition will be over, let's concentrate on getting out the bushes, and our work will be done. We need all resources focused on toppling bush now, cannabis prohibition ends the day bush is out!End of subject!War on Terrorism = war on cannabists!Condilezza Rice didn't even know who Al Queda was, we hear, what an idiot, and boy are we idiots as well, as 'muricans'! Email, fax, call, write, rally, protest, as now is the time to get it done! Go to topplebush.com"I find it outrageous that the President is running for re-election on the grounds that he's done such great things about terrorism. He ignored it. He ignored terrorism for months, when maybe we could have done something to stop 9/11. Maybe. We'll never know."http://billmon.org/archives/001239.htmlIraq war wasn't justified, U.N. weapons experts say Blix, ElBaradei: U.S. ignored evidence against WMDshttp://www.cnn.com/2004/US/03/21/iraq.weapons/index.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on March 22, 2004 at 09:13:05 PT Dragging their feet like little children They'll grow up. It's the only direction to grow! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment