Hawaii Bill to Allow Medical Cannabis for Lupus, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis and Arthritis Passed by House
A Hawaii measure to expand the list of qualifying medical cannabis conditions has been passed by the full House of Representatives.
Senate Bill 174, which has already passed the Senate with a unanimous 25 to 0 vote, was given approval today by the full House of Representatives. Given that the measure was amended, it will need to go back to the Senate before it can be sent to Governor David Ige for consideration. Ige is expected to sign it into law once given the chance.
The amended law would allow those with lupus, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and arthritis to become legal users of medical cannabis by adding the ailments to the state’s list of qualifying conditions. The bill approved by the Senate would have also allowed those with autism to use medical cannabis, but the condition was amended out in the House. The Senate now has the option of concurring with the change and sending it to the governor, or rejecting the change and putting it back in the hands of the House.
Currently medical cannabis use in Hawaii is limited to those with cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS or a “chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces” cachexia, severe pain or nausea, seizures, sever muscle spasms or post traumatic stress disorder.
The full text of the measure can be found by clicking here.
