VOL.11 Issue3 March 18, 2011 IN THIS ISSUE WHEN MEDICINE IS NOT CONTRABAND X Landmark Med. Marijuana Bills pg 1 Garnering much attention this session Implications of Marijuana Decriminal- X Message from Kalani pg 1 are two bills introduced by Senator ization and Legalization for Hawai‘i,” X Civil Rights For All pg 2 English, both pertaining to medical dated March 2007, by University X Honolulu Rail System pg 2 marijuana. Senate Bill 1458 establish- of Hawai’i West Oahu economist, X Auwahi Wind Farm pg 3 es three classes of medical marijuana Lawrence W. Boyd, Ph.D. This study X Capitol Commentary pg 3 licenses. The first license class would further indicates that less than two per allow the operation of a compassion cent of all arrests in Hawai’i between X 2011 CIP Update pg 4 center (dispensary) and distribution the years of 1997 and 2004 were X Education Week Begins pg 4 of medical marijuana to qualified for marijuana possession and of the patients. The second license class is a misdemeanor marijuana drug cases MESSAGE FROM KALANI cultivation license to grow marijuana brought in district court, approximate- for the compassion centers. The third ly sixty-five per cent are dismissed, license class would enable manufac- stricken, or not prosecuted. turing of medical marijuana-infused We are busy at the Capitol as we pass The study concludes, few of those products. the half way mark of Session. The arrested for marijuana possession are Senate has confirmed four more State Collectively, these licenses will create actually prosecuted under the law, Department Directors, has taken an in- the structure allowing individuals with fewer convicted, and virtually none depth look at Hawaiian issues during various medical conditions to obtain serve jail time. Of those convicted, Hawaiian Caucus Day and examined medical marijuana. A Compassion probation is the usual sentence for first educational issues during Education Center offers safe access for the 9000+ time offenders. Clearly, the costs to week. registered patients in Hawai’i to obtain enforce marijuana possession laws are The ripple effects from tragedies in the their prescribed medical marijuana. substantial, while the resulting convic- east have undoubtedly shaken all of Hearing patient after patient offering tion rate is low. testimony explaining how cannabis us. The events in Japan demonstrate Senate Bills 1458 and 1460 represent has saved their lives, enabled them to how lucky we were this time and what the first modifications to medical mari- move and get out of bed again is testa- could have happened here in Hawai’i. juana statutes since their inception in ment to cannabis’s beneficial applica- Our hearts go out to all who are suffer- 2000. These bills have passed the Sen- ing unfathomable loss. tions. ate and are now in the House. Senate I would like to thank all of our State Senate Bill 1460, establishes a civil Bill 1458 has just moved through its and County Civil Defense workers violation for the possession of an first referral in the joint House Com- who ensured our safety during the ounce or less of marijuana and subject mittees on Health and Public Safety tsunami alert and evacuation. We can the possessor to a civil fine of no more and Military Affairs. The Measure must rest easier knowing that Hawai’i Civil than $100. State and county law en- now go to the House Committee on Defense is prepared for us. forcement agencies spend $4,100,000 Judiciary and then Finance. Senate per year to enforce marijuana pos- Bill 1460 has been referred to the joint session laws, and an additional House Committees on Health and $2,100,000 is spent by the courts each Public Safety and Military Affairs then year to process marijuana possession the Judiciary Committee, but has not Vol.11 Issue3 pg.1 • March 18, 2011 cases, according to, “The Budgetary been scheduled for a hearing. CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL THE BEGINNING OF HONOLULU RAIL On January 1st, 2012, the State of The long awaited Honolulu Rail Hawai’i can begin issuing licenses System broke ground on February for civil unions, a marriage license 22, 2011 along Kualakai Parkway equivalent for opposite and same (North-South Road) in Kapolei, Oahu. gender couples that extends the same This initial phase of the elevated rail rights, benefits, protections, and re- guideway system will extend from East sponsibilities of spouses in a marriage Kapolei to Pearl City. In attendance to partners in a civil union. Senate were various dignitaries from Hawai‘i Bill 232, introduced on January 23, including; United States Senators 2011, moved very quickly through Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka, both branches of the Legislature and Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa, was signed into law by Governor Neil Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz, Senators J. Kalani English, Brickwood Abercrombie on February 23, 2011. Senate President Shan Tsutsui, Speaker Galuteria, Mike Gabbard, Will The bill signing ceremony was held at of the House Calvin Say, Senators J. Espero, Senate President Shan Tsutsui, Washington Place among key lawmak- Kalani English, Mike Gabbard and Will Speaker Calvin Say, Representatives ers and long time supporters of civil Espero among other legislators. Rida Cabanilla, Sharon Har, Ty Cullen, rights in Hawai’i. Hawai’i is the sev- Corinne Ching, Karen Awana and The $5.5 billion dollar transit project is enth state in the nation to recognize Henry Aquino present a Legislative a 20-mile elevated rail system con- civil unions. proclamation at the Honolulu Rail necting East Kapolei with Ala Moana Groundbreaking. February 22, 2011. Senate Bill 232 is the 2011 version of Center. It includes 21 stations in com- last year’s House Bill 444 that gener- munities including Waipahu, Pearl ated so much controversy between City, Aiea, Kalihi, Chinatown, Down- church groups and the Gay, Lesbian, town Honolulu, and Kakaako. There Bisexual and Transgender advocates. will also be stations at activity centers House Bill 444 was the subject of such as UH-West Oahu, Leeward much debate in the 2010 session and Community College, Pearl Highlands, passed final reading last April. Former Pearlridge, Aloha Stadium, Honolulu Governor Lingle vetoed the measure International Airport, and Honolulu in July. Community College. The rail system is an efficient, pro- gressive solution to Oahu’s road way United States Senator Daniel In- limitations and increasing population. ouye and Senator J. Kalani English. Commuters will have an alternate February 22, 2011. means of transportation to work that reduces our carbon emissions and time on the road. The estimated time from Kapolei to Ala Moana on the Rail is 42 Minutes with trains coming every 3-10 Minutes. The Rail system is ex- pected to reduce future traffic conges- tion by roughly 21-23 percent and take more than 34,000 cars and trucks off Senators J. Kalani English, Les Ihara, our roads each day. Gilbert Kahele and Roz Baker, For more information visit: Diagram of proposed Honolulu Rail Representative Chris Lee, Senator http://honolulutransit.org route including stops and estimated Clayton Hee, Speaker Calvin Say travel times. February 22, 2011. and Senator Brickwood Galuteria join Governor Neil Abercrombie and his wife Nancy Caraway to sign Senate Bill 232 into law. February 23, 2011. Legislators brake ground for Vol.11 Issue3 pg.2 • March 18, 2011 Honolulu Rail. February 22, 2011. KULA COmmUNITY ASSOCIATION ENERGY PANEL The Kula Community Association “Finally the day has arrived when we hosted a well attended discussion can create sustainable power that lib- with Senator J. Kalani English and erates us from the escalating prices of Maui Electric President Ed Reinhardt petroleum while reducing our green- Ed Reinhardt , Sen. English, Sumner regarding renewable wind energy house emissions at the same time.” Erdman, Mitch Dmohowski, and and Sempra Corporation’s proposed said Sen. English. Dick Mayer. Kula Community Center, plans to construct a large wind farm Sen. English also reflected on the Maui. February 23, 2011. on Ulupalakua Ranch. The Sempra progress of our State since the passage project will reduce Maui’s need to of Hawai’i’s Energy Reform Bill, Senate import expensive oil; but will impact Bill 3185, in 2006. “Maui wants alter- both Upcountry and South Maui with native fuels and in this case these are possible noise from the wind turbines, the eggs, (wind, waves, sun, biofuels). unpleasant wind blade views and large If we are to reap the rewards of these trucks bearing construction materials eggs, we must raise the chickens.” passing through these communities. Sumner Erdman jested “I’m a Rancher, Dick Mayer, Kula Community As- so I prefer the compatible analogy of sociation Chair and moderator for cattle / wind generators on our ranch the discussion introduced the panel land.” That is why he whole heartedly which consisted of Senator J. Kalani supports Sempra’s proposal. Sen. English, Dick Mayer and Mitch English; Ed Reinhardt, Maui Electric Dmohowski stand before topographi- The panel outlined the proposed Au- Company President; Sumner Erdman, cal map of the proposed Auwahi wahi Wind farm project and affirmed Ulupalakua Ranch President and Wind Energy farm in Ulupalakua, the dedicated partnership between the Mitch Dmohowski from Auwahi Wind Maui. February 23, 2011. State and County governments as well Energy LLC which is owned by Sempra as support from the Federal Dept. of Resource links: Generation. All panelists referred to Energy. The completed EIS Study has the proposed partnership as a, “win, Ulupalaku Ranch: been published (see link at left). Sen. wind, win” situation. The proposed http://www.ulupalakuaranch.com/ English explained the complexity and project would increase local jobs, benefits of the proposed future under- Auwahi: energy customers would be able to sea cable project, linking Oahu’s http://www.auwahi.org/ anticipate less fluctuation in bills and “firm” power source as back-up and rates, reduce gas and carbon emissions MECO: stabilization as neighboring islands as well as encourage the protection http://www.hawaiisenergyfuture.com/ contribute renewable sources of en- of the Auwahi ecosystem by helping ergy into the grid system.