LEGISLATORS HOLD BACK BILL ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

AIDS patient Alexander Martin did not really expect the state Legislature
to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

But he is hopeful the Legislature will make a statement that marijuana
should be legalized for people like him who use it to help deal with
disease and the side effects of medication.

"I will use whatever I need to do to fight for my life, and I believe
that's true for many other people," Martin said after the House Health
Committee yesterday voted to hold a bill to legalize marijuana for medical
purposes.

Instead, committee Chairman Alex Santiago (D, Pupukea) asked the bill's
author, Rep. David Tarnas (D, South Kohala), to write a resolution asking
the federal government to allow doctors to prescribe marijuana.

Santiago was concerned about a conflict between state and federal law if
the state legalized medical marijuana while it is still illegal under
federal law.

"Passing laws is not the way to do it, not at this time anyway," Santiago
said.

Tarnas had hoped the bill would advance since California and Arizona have
legalized medical marijuana.

He believes it will take some time to educate people on the issue. "It will
be back on the table again next year," he promised.

Sidney Hayakawa, the agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration
office in Honolulu, said the Health Committee is doing the right thing in
not moving the bill forward.

He said there is a protocol on the federal level that may eventually allow
doctors to prescribe marijuana.

"We spent hours and hours debating the issue," Hayakawa said.

"From the law enforcement side, we're law enforcement officials and it's
our duty to enforce the law, not to make law or change law."

Martin hopes the resolution will pass. "I think it's a step in the right
direction," he said. Martin also noted that "Hawaii has often led the
nation in health issues."