Hawai’i Legislature could allow cannabis for any medical condition

After letting advocates down on cannabis legalization and decriminalization earlier this year, the Hawai'i Legislature has the opportunity to advance cannabis justice and liberty in the context of medical cannabis.

Two Senate committees approved a House-passed bill to allow medical cannabis certifications via telehealth (HB 302). The committees first amended the bill, including to allow doctors and advanced practice registered nurses to certify patients for medical cannabis for any condition they deem appropriate.

The bill has one more Senate committee to clear and two Senate floor votes. If it makes it past the Senate, it would then head back to the House of Representatives — where it began — for concurrence or a conference committee.

If you live in Hawai'i, ask your senator to support the medical cannabis improvement bill.

Healthcare providers can and do prescribe medications "off label" — for symptoms and conditions other than those they were FDA-approved to treat. Doctors, patients, and nurse practitioners should be given the same discretion for medical cannabis, which has a much better safety profile than many medications. Hawai'i currently has a limited list of qualifying conditions that omits conditions found in other states, such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's disease, anxiety, and autism.

Last year after legalization fell short, Gov. Josh Green spoke out for allowing medical cannabis for any condition. At least 10 other states have similar language.