Aloha friends...
This came from Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii. These meetings are on Oahu, so a lot of us can't help, but I wanted to pass this along...
HERE'S THE SITUATION
We have been told that Keith Kamita, who is Chief of the Narcotics Enforcement Division of the Department of Public Safety, made a presentation to the May 13th meeting of Neighborhood Board No. 5 (Diamond Head, Kapahulu, St. Louis Heights.) Recall that Kamita is the administrator of Hawaii's medical marijuana program.
During his presentation he displayed PowerPoint slides. One slide listed the names of the top ten doctors in Hawai`i who have signed recommendations for patients to use medical marijuana. The slide also included the number of recommendations each physician had issued. He implied that these doctors do not have legitimate relationships with their patients and are recommending medical marijuana illegally. In the case of one physician whose image was shown, Kamita said that that his office was “watching” him.
He has always told us that he couldn't provide DPFH (and patients) with names of physicians who participate in the medical marijuana program because it is confidential. His website also says that it is against state policy to recommend physicians to patients.
Omitted from Kamita’s presentation is the fact that the United States Supreme Court let stand a decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals permitting physicians to recommend marijuana to patients whom they believe might medically benefit from its use free from federal (and in Hawai`i) state threats or interference. (Conant v. Walters, 309 F. 3d 629, 2002).
We feel that this presentation is meant to intimidate doctors and discourage them from participating in the program.
During the presentation, Kamita also made comments implying that 66% of patients are using medical marijuana for "chronic pain," and this high percentage is an indication that the program is being used improperly.
Kamita’s presentation was listed on the agenda as “Medical Marijuana and the new K2/Spice drug.”
HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO
Although we have checked the May agenda-there are 33 active neighborhood boards; three do not have their May agenda posted:
No. 34 Makakilo, Kapolei, Honokai Hale-meeting May 26
No. 25 Mililani, Waipio, Melemanu-meeting May 26
No. 22 Waipahu-meeting May 27
1. Please check the June agenda for your neighborhood board and if you live in one of the three above, check their May agenda. Most of the agenda are posted a week or so before the scheduled meetings. You can check it here:
http://www.honolulu.gov/nco/boards.htm
OR you can sign up to receive future agenda so you can see whether Kamita is scheduled to speak at the board meeting. Here is the link:
http://www.honolulu.gov/nco/index.htm
2. Attend the meeting so that you can ask questions/object to what he says. Patients can also tell their experiences...how much medical marijuana has helped. Most boards limit speakers anywhere from 1 to 3 minutes, so practice telling your story within the time limit.
3. Take notes and let us know if he says anything that is questionable/not factual...we are still wondering why he is speaking to the neighborhood boards. One guess is that he is trying to scare people so that dispensaries are not established here. He is really working hard to undermine the program.
Since there are so many neighborhood boards, we appreciate your help. Feel free to email me with any questions.
Jeanne Ohta
Executive Director
Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii
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