Senate Bill 1058, <http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/bills/SB1058_CD1_.pdf> an act to create a medical cannabis task force committee, has been approved by the legislature and now awaits action from Republican Gov. Linda Lingle.
As approved, SB 1058 would:
- “Examine current state statutes, state administrative rules, and all county policies and procedures relating to the medical marijuana program;”
- “Examine all issues and obstacles that qualifying patients have encountered with the medical marijuana program;
- “Examine all issues and obstacles that state and county law enforcement agencies have encountered with the medical marijuana program;”
- “Compare and contrast Hawaii’s medical marijuana program with all other state medical marijuana programs;”
- and “address other issues … the task force deems appropriate.”
The task force will consist 13 members, including leaders from the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, the West Oahu Hope for a Cure Foundation, Americans for Safe Access, and a medical cannabis patient who is appointed by the Governor.
In 2008, Gov. Lingle vetoed <http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7648> a similar task force measure. That is why we are asking you to contact the Governor and urge her to support SB 1058.
For your convenience, a pre-written letter supporting this bill will be mailed to the Governor when you go here.
<http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=13317176>
Additional information regarding this measure is available from Jeanne Ohta, Executive Director of The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii.
Ho, brah! I’ve got to call up all of my old college, pakalolo smoking buddies in my old stomping ground and tell them to send an email to Lingle.