Sheck, Puna, Mahalo
Hawaiis Medical Cannabis Program to be discussed at public Talk Story event
Community invited to share concerns about Hawaiis medical cannabis program
Note: A questionnaire for patients is currently being distributed and you are encouraged to fill it out:
please click here. Questionnaires will also be available at the event on October 27. Patients may either mail completed questionnairs to the address indicated or submit them at the event in person.
The Medical Cannabis Working Group announced today that they will be holding a public Medical Cannabis Talk Story on:
October 27, 2009
6:30 - 8pm
Hawaii State Capitol, Conference Room 329.
The Medical Cannabis Working Group (Working Group) invites all members of the public to share their concerns about Hawaiis medical cannabis program (also referred to as the medical marijuana program).
The Working Group is composed of organizations, medical professionals, patients and caregivers with the purpose of examining problems with current medical cannabis laws. The Working Group will provide a report to the Legislature prior to the 2010 legislative session with their findings and recommendations, including information obtained from the Talk Story, for use in developing legislation to improve the medical cannabis program.
To ensure that all issues with the medical cannabis program are addressed in its report and recommendations, the Working Group is asking the public to attend and speak at the Talk Story or complete and submit a
questionnaire which will be available at the meeting or by
clicking here. Neighbor island residents, in particular, are encouraged to submit their concerns via the questionnaire.
Speakers are asked to limit their Talk Story comments to three minutes to ensure that everyone is able to speak.
Limited metered parking is available in the State Capitol underground parking garage (accessible via Miller St. off of Punchbowl St.) or at the Department of Health parking lot across from the Capitol.
Pam Lichty, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii President, stated: In 2000, Hawaii became the first state to legislatively establish a medical cannabis program and is now joined by 12 other states. Since then, no changes have been made to the law. It is long past time for Hawaii to update its program so that sick and dying patients needs are adequately served. We hope to provide Legislators with the knowledge and tools to do just that
Laurie Temple, ACLU attorney, noted that: This meeting and the formation of the Working Group is particularly timely given that the United States Justice Department issued a policy directive just yesterday stating that people who use marijuana for medical purposes and those who distribute it will not face federal prosecution, provided that they act according to state law. Hopefully this directive will end the confusion felt by state officials charged with administering our medical cannabis program and clear the way for the programs improvement.