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Medical
marijuana
bill signed

The Hawaii lawmakers
are first in the nation to
OK such a measure

By Richard Borreca
Star-Bulletin

Proponents of using marijuana for medical purposes cite Hawaii's Legislature as the first in the country to allow the sick to smoke marijuana.

Seven other states have approved the use of marijuana for medical purposes through initiative, but Gov. Ben Cayetano yesterday signed into law the first legislative act allowing the illegal drug for medical purposes.

"I introduced similar legislation three years ago," Cayetano said, adding that he expected other states to follow.

The bill was the result of the lobbying from the Drug Policy Forum, which stressed that the drug was needed for humane and compassionate care of individuals suffering from the nausea and wasting of cancer treatments and AIDS.

"I was skeptical at first," said Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland, Health Committee chairwoman. "But after hearing from so many families, care givers and patients, I feel this is a bill of compassion."

Not all agree on the new law. The Rev. Frank Chong, chairman of the Cancer Society government relations committee, said the society is against all forms of smoking "including cigarettes, cigars and dope."

He added that so far, no clinical trials have shown that smoked marijuana is any more effective than the synthetic ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol.

According to the National Institute of Health "the risk associated with marijuana, especial smoked marijuana must be considered not only in terms of immediate adverse effects on the lungs, but also the long-term effects in patients with chronic diseases."

Yesterday, supporters, however, talked of how smoking marijuana eased the real pain of loved ones who were suffering from chemotherapy.

According to the new law, the state will draw up rules and regulations that will go to public hearing and then to Cayetano for his approval. Keith Kamita, administrator of the Narcotics Enforcement Division of the state Department of Public Safety, said they haven't figured out a timetable yet for implementing the law.

Patients who need the marijuana will go to their doctor who will give them an application to fill out, the doctor will then return the approved application to the state Public Safety Department, which will check to make sure the information is accurate and that someone is not getting multiple permits from various doctors.

The patient will then get a certificate saying they are allowed a specific amount of marijuana. If detained by the police, the patient can show the marijuana certificate to explain why they are using the drug.

While possession will be legalized, the purchase of marijuana or marijuana seeds is still against the law. "How they get it is not stated in the bill," Kamita said.

Even Don Topping, with the Drug Policy Forum, said "I guess we just have to look the other way."