Pubdate: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI) Copyright: 2009 Honolulu Star-Bulletin Contact: http://www.starbulletin.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/196 Authors: Pamela Lichty and Laurie Temple MEDICAL CANNABIS ENTERS NEW ERA Thank you for your Oct. 21 editorial urging legislators to compel the governor "to accept a system for patients to gain access to marijuana without having to do business with illegal drug dealers" ("Put state pot law to use," Star-Bulletin). The governor's continuing opposition has prevented legislators from revising Hawaii's 9-year-old medical cannabis law and better serving seriously ill constituents. Now that the Obama administration is honoring the autonomy of the 14 states that have legalized medical use of cannabis, we hope that 2010 will see legislators and the governor working together to ensure that Hawaii's program fulfills the original intent of the law: to serve sick and dying patients in Hawaii. A Medical Cannabis Working Group, consisting of patients, physicians, caregivers and advocacy organizations, will make recommendations to the Legislature to improve the program. The public is invited to the Medical Cannabis Talk Story at room 329 of the state Capitol on Tuesday from 6:30-8 p.m. Pamela Lichty and Laurie Temple Co-chairs, Medical Cannabis Working Group - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart