LEGISLATORS APPROVE MARIJUANA PROPOSALS; CAYETANO FAVORS MEDICAL USE

Both the state House and Senate yesterday approved bills legalizing
marijuana use for medical purposes, which means such a measure is
extremely likely to become law.

This is the first time measures authorizing medical marijuana have
cleared both houses of the Legislature.

Gov. Ben Cayetano has said he favors allowing marijuana to be used for
medical purposes, so a veto is unlikely. The state Department of
Health has said marijuana should be available to treat symptoms
associated with cancer, AIDS and other conditions.

Six other states -- California, Arizona, Washington, Maine, Oregon and
Alaska -- have approved marijuana for medical uses, although federal
law still prohibits it. With such conflicting laws, users could face
federal but not state prosecution.

The measure barely passed the Senate, 13-12. A similar bill passed
easily in the House, 32-18.

Sen. Norman Sakamoto (D-Moanalua, Salt Lake) said the bill's intent to
ease patients' pain is "commendable," but that it "opens
floodgates to alot of problems."

He said legalizing medical marijuana would tempt people to break the
law and make the drug accessible to those who are not qualified to use
it. Sakamoto also said he had questions about how marijuana would be
distributed and cultivated.

Sen. Jonathan Chun (D-S. Kauai, Niihau) said that marijuana is
associated with lung damage and loss of short-term memory and that
legislators, who have no medical background, should not make decisions
about legalizing drugs.

"I believe we should stick with the tried-and-true method that if
there is a drug that should be legalized, it should go through the
regular process of the federal drug agency," he said.

But Sen. Sam Slom (R-Waialae Iki, Hawaii Kai) said some of his family
members have suffered excruciating pain. "For them, whatever is an
option," he said. "As a son, as a relative, as someone who cares,
I want them to be able todo it. Government has been standing in the
way."

Senate Judiciary Committee Co-Chairman Matt Matsunaga (D-Waialae,
Palolo) said such a law would not send the wrong message to children,
who he said can and should be taught the difference between medicine
and drug abuse.

"Harsh, uncompassionate laws, those that criminalize patients who
receive medicine -- that sends a wrong message to children," he said.

The medical marijuana bills, as well as other bills passed yesterday,
will now go to the other legislative house for review.