Pubdate: Wed, 18 Feb 2015
Source: West Hawaii Today (HI)
Copyright: 2015 Associated Press
Contact: http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/contact_us/letters/
Website: http://westhawaiitoday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/644
Author: Cathy Bussewitz, Associated Press

STATE DEBATES MARIJUANA DISPENSARY BILL

HONOLULU (AP) - Michelle Tippens was taking more than a dozen 
medications for years after a car accident left her with multiple 
spine fractures and traumatic brain injuries.

But when she switched to medical marijuana she was able to wean 
herself off all of the pills, she said.

Tippens is one of nearly 13,000 patients in Hawaii who have 
conditions that could be treated with medical marijuana. But because 
there are no dispensaries in Hawaii, they're left to fend for 
themselves, buying on the black market or growing it themselves.

"In order to qualify for the card, you have to be really sick," said 
Tippens, who wore a necklace of old pill bottles to the Legislature 
on Tuesday. "And a lot of people who are really sick are not capable 
of cultivating marijuana."

Fourteen years after medical marijuana became legal in Hawaii, 
lawmakers are pushing plans to give patients legal access to the 
drug. A joint meeting of the House Committees on Health and Judiciary 
advanced a proposal Tuesday that would establish medical marijuana 
dispensaries. The bill, HB 321, now goes to the House Committee on Finance.

The amended proposal would allow a minimum of 26 dispensaries, which 
would have to be at least 700 feet from playgrounds, schools and 
public housing.

Opponents fear that establishing dispensaries could make it easier 
for young people to get their hands on the drug and pave the way for 
decriminalization.

A similar proposal in the Senate is slated for a decision in a joint 
committee hearing today.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom