Call to Arms: Oppose HB1829 (Repeal of medijuana safeguards)

From Horns of Jericho, February 10, 2016

Suggested draft testimony can be found here.

Synopsis: HB1829 reduces or repeals safeguards that were passed with legislation establishing medical marijuana dispensaries.  When the legislation went through, marijuana activists assured the public that the system would be safe, that our children would be safe, and that there would be no question that medical marijuana would never find its way to the streets as recreational marijuana.

• Section 2 reduces the penalty for medijuana fraud from a class B felony to a petty misdemeanor.
• Section 3 reduces the penalty for giving medijuana to a minor from a class C felony to a petty misdemeanor.
• Section 4 removes the criminal offense for unauthorized entry into a retail dispensing location.
• Section 5 removes the criminal offense for unauthorized entry into a production center.
• Section 6 removes the penalties for the unauthorized diversion (theft) from a dispensary or production center.

Removal of these safeguards amount to a bait and switch.  Public support was secured with assurances that safeguards would be robust.  Now that many legislators (and well-connected political elite) stand to make money hand over fist with medical marijuana (“medijuana”) dispensaries, they are weakening or repealing the very same safeguards.

Recommended position: Oppose, the bill repeals or weakens many safeguards that were built into the medical marijuana dispensary system.  This bill jeopardizes the safety of our families and our children.

Who: House Judiciary Committee

What: Hearing on HB1829 (Repeals and weakens medijuana dispensary safeguards)

When: February 12th, 2016 at 2:00PM

Where: State Capitol, Room 329

Why: HB1829 repeals or weakens many safeguards that were built into the medical marijuana dispensary system.  This bill jeopardizes the safety of our families and our children.

How:

(a) In-person: In addition to your in-person testimony, be sure to submit written testimony. See the information below for information on parking.

(b) Written testimony: Written testimony can be submitted using the Capitol website. Written testimony must be received at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing to be ensure consideration by committee members. Late testimony will be accepted and entered into the record, but may not receive consideration due to time constraints.

Parking: Limited metered public parking is available in the basement garage of the State Capitol. On busy days (such as this), those stalls will likely be occupied. Do not park in reserved parking stalls! The parking structure in Ali’i Place (entrance on Alakea Street) is often more convenient. While the parking is not free, it is much more convenient than the congested parking garage underneath the Capitol. For those who are able to, the most convenient and reliable transportation option to the State Capitol is the bus.