Hawaii Senate Bill SCR69

Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/10/22
• Refer: 3/11/22

Caption

Requesting The Drug Enforcement Agency To Assist The Hawaii Department Of Health With Obtaining A Federal Exemption For The State Authorized Use Of Cannabis In Hawaii.

Impact

If approved, SCR69 could mitigate the tension between state and federal cannabis regulations, giving Hawaii more autonomy in managing its medical cannabis program. The resolution emphasizes that states retain the authority to regulate cannabis within their jurisdictions. It also highlights the continuing relevance of the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment, which currently protects state medical cannabis programs from federal interference.

Summary

Senate Concurrent Resolution 69 (SCR69) requests the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to assist the Hawaii Department of Health in obtaining a federal exemption for the authorized use of cannabis within the state. This resolution arises from the ongoing conflict between state and federal regulations concerning cannabis, which has led to significant consequences for registered medical cannabis patients and licensed dispensaries in Hawaii. The legislature previously addressed this issue through House Concurrent Resolution No. 132, which called for the filing of a federal exemption application by the Department of Health.

Contention

The discussions around SCR69 reveal possible concerns regarding the Department of Health's hesitation to pursue the exemption due to fears of adverse effects on the state's medical cannabis program. Critics may argue that moving forward with such an application could draw unwanted attention from federal authorities, which might threaten the existing structure of Hawaii's medical cannabis regulations. Overall, the resolution underscores a significant tension that many states face in balancing state-approved cannabis programs with federal laws.