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| The two medical
marijuana bills in Hawaii were passed by the full Senate and full House
of Representatives yesterday! (more)
Legislators approve marijuana proposals; Cayetano favors medical use By Lynda Arakawa and Kevin Dayton Advertiser Capitol Bureau Both the state House and Senate yesterday approved bills legalizing marijuana use for medical purposes, which means such a measure is extremely likely to become law. This is the first time measures authorizing medical marijuana have cleared both houses of the Legislature. Gov. Ben Cayetano has said he favors allowing marijuana to be used for medical purposes, so a veto is unlikely. The state Department of Health has said marijuana should be available to treat symptoms associated with cancer, AIDS and other conditions. Six other states — California, Arizona, Washington, Maine, Oregon and Alaska — have approved marijuana for medical uses, although federal law still prohibits it. With such conflicting laws, users could face federal but not state prosecution. The measure barely passed the Senate, 13-12. A similar bill passed easily in the House, 32-18. Sen. Norman Sakamoto (D-Moanalua, Salt Lake) said the bill’s intent to ease patients’ pain is “commendable,” but that it “opens floodgates to a lot of problems.” He said legalizing medical marijuana would tempt people to break the law and make the drug accessible to those who are not qualified to use it. Sakamoto also said he had questions about how marijuana would be distributed and cultivated. Sen. Jonathan Chun (D-S. Kauai, Niihau) said that marijuana is associated with lung damage and loss of short-term memory and that legislators, who have no medical background, should not make decisions about legalizing drugs. “I believe we should stick with the tried-and-true method that if there is a drug that should be legalized, it should go through the regular process of the federal drug agency,” he said. But Sen. Sam Slom (R-Waialae Iki, Hawaii Kai) said some of his family members have suffered excruciating pain. “For them, whatever is an option,” he said. “As a son, as a relative, as someone who cares, I want them to be able to do it. Government has been standing in the way.” Senate Judiciary Committee Co-Chairman Matt Matsunaga (D-Waialae, Palolo) said such a law would not send the wrong message to children, who he said can and should be taught the difference between medicine and drug abuse. “Harsh, uncompassionate laws, those that criminalize patients who receive medicine — that sends a wrong message to children,” he said. The medical marijuana bills, as well as other bills passed yesterday, will now go to the other legislative house for review. Lawmakers also passed the following measures yesterday: Civil service. The House and Senate approved differing bills designed to overhaul the state civil service and collective bargaining systems. House Majority Leader Ed Case last week said he had deep misgivings about the House version of civil service overhaul, calling the House bill a rejection of Cayetano’s effort to modernize state government. Last night House Republicans offered a floor amendment that would have replaced the House draft with Cayetano’s original bill, but Case and the other House Democrats voted the amendment down. Case said he is still unhappy with the House bill, but intends to work during the rest of the session to try to get a better bill approved. Minimum wage. The Senate voted 19-6 to pass a bill to raise Hawaii’s $5.25-an-hour minimum wage by 25 cents in 2001 and another 25 cents in 2002. The House passed a different version that would increase the minimum wage to $5.75 in one step effective Jan. 1, 2003. Hate crimes. The Senate voted 19-6 to pass a bill that would extend sentences for criminal offenders who select their victims by such factors as race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. Firearms re-registration. By a 18-7 vote, the Senate passed a bill that would require re-registration of firearms by mail and requires a firearm owner ID card to be presented to buy ammunition. The House also passed a version requiring re-registration every five years. Educational accountability. Both houses passed bills requiring the state Department of Education to implement the educational accountability system for Hawaii’s public schools.
The two medical marijuana bills in Hawaii were passed
by the full
The Hawaii House of Representatives passed H.B. 1157 / SD 2 by a 32-18
MPP would like to thank the ACLU of Hawaii, the Drug Policy Forum of
This is only the third time in history that both chambers of a state
The House bill now crosses over to the Senate, and the Senate bill
MPP is hoping that this success in Hawaii will provide inspiration to
VOTE BREAKDOWN IN THE HAWAII SENATE S.B. 862 / SD 2 passed the Hawaii Senate on March 7 by a 13-12 vote!
Anderson (R)
The 12 "no" votes (all Democrats) were opposed to making marijuana
Buen
VOTE BREAKDOWN IN THE HAWAII HOUSE H.B. 1157 / SD 2 passed the Hawaii House of Representatives by a 32-18
Abinsay
The 18 "no" votes were opposed to making marijuana medically
Auwae (R)
This state representative (a Democrat) did not vote ... Okamura
OVERVIEW If H.B. 1157 / HD 2 or S.B. 862 / SD 2 is enacted into law, patients
The House Health Committee passed H.B. 1157 in February 1999, and the
In February 1999, the Senate Health Committee passed S.B. 862, and the
If both the House and Senate can ultimately agree on the same bill,
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