BILLS WOULD EASE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS

HONOLULU -- Just last week, a Big Island patient placed his baggie of
pot, along with his medical marijuana ID card, on the X-ray machine
as he boarded a commercial flight to Honolulu. Federal Transportation
Security Administration screeners let it go, both coming and going.

But life isn't always that easy for participants in the state's
medical-marijuana program, prompting freshman Rep. Joe Bertram to
sponsor four bills loosening marijuana regulation. Some travelers
have had their pot confiscated; others have been arrested.

Hawaii is one of 12 states allowing the medical use of marijuana.

Current law, enacted in 2000, requires patients to get a doctor to
complete a certification form, which is then filed with the Narcotics
Enforcement Division of the state Department of Public Safety.
Doctors may prescribe marijuana for "debilitating" medical conditions
such as cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, severe weakness, malnutrition,
weight loss, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures and muscle spasms,
including those of multiple sclerosis or Crohn's disease.

The law limits patients to no more than three mature marijuana
plants, four immature marijuana plants and three ounces of usable
marijuana on hand at any one time.

Bertram, D-Makena, Wailea, Kihei, acknowledges that passing pot laws
might be difficult in an election year. But at an informational
session Wednesday of the House Health Committee, Bertram said he has
high hopes the bills will get a favorable hearing because it's time
to take the state's laws to the next level.

"Hawaii was a leader, used to be as far as really being on the
forefront of progressive issues, but we're falling behind," Bertram
said. "I think this is the year. There are a lot of people concerned
about where this legislation is going to go."

Participants at the informational meeting included experts on
California's medical-marijuana law, court-qualified cannabis expert
and curator of the Hash-Marijuana-Hemp Museum in Amsterdam Chris
Conrad, representatives of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii and
medical-marijuana users.

Bills that Bertram is proposing will:

- - Increase allowable marijuana supply to 12 plants and seven ounces
at any given time. A separate bill would increase the limit to a
10-foot-by-10-foot garden canopy and three pounds of dried cannabis
bud or concentrate per year.

- - Honor out-of-state medical marijuana cards

- - Create a committee to evaluate other conditions allowing
medical-marijuana use

- - Simplify the registration process

- - Require law enforcement agencies to pay fair market value for any
confiscated pot that is not returned

- - Require the Department of Health to establish a pilot project on
Maui growing up to 98 plants in a secure facility where patients can
lease space for marijuana crops.

- - Create a University of Hawaii research grant to study the medical
efficacy of marijuana and different forms of delivery

"We have to make it available for people right now," Bertram said.
"It's inexcusable not to."

Most of the state's medical marijuana production is on the Big
Island. But Rep. Josh Green, D-North Kona, Keauhou, Kailua-Kona, a
medical doctor and chairman of the Health Committee, is keeping his
distance from the legislation.

"Some chronic illnesses require creative treatment such as medical
marijuana, especially if it will decrease the amount of narcotics
being taken," Green said. "But as a health chairman, I have to be
mindful of abuse of the system as well. I have my vice chairman
looking into it."