David Y. Ige

Hawai‘i Department of Health convenes Medical Cannabis Outstanding Issues Working Group meeting to address employment issues and manufacturing and distribution of edible medical cannabis products

Wednesday, August 1, 2018
2 – 4 p.m.

HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) will convene a Medical Use of Cannabis Outstanding Issues Working Group tomorrow to address two issues: employment-related policies and practices involving those who are registered users of medical cannabis and the manufacturing and distribution of food-type products containing medical cannabis, also known as edibles, by licensed dispensaries.

The working group meeting will be held at the Hawai‘i State Capitol, 415 S. Beretania St., in Conference Room 325 tomorrow, Aug. 1, from 2 – 4 p.m. There will be monthly meetings held on Sept. 4, Oct. 2, and Nov. 13, 2018 from 2 – 4 pm. A meeting may be held on Dec. 11, 2018, if needed. Meeting announcements and agendas are posted at https://calendar.ehawaii.gov/calendar/html/event/2018. Select “Department of Health” and “Medical Use of Cannabis Outstanding Issues Working Group” in the search field.

A bill to establish the working group was introduced and passed in the last legislative session, and subsequently signed into law by Gov. David Ige in early July 2018. The working group is required to provide periodic reports to the legislature and submit a final report prior to the start of the 2019 session.

The working group will consider actions taken in other states regarding employment of qualified medical cannabis patients in regard to substance abuse screening tests administered by an employer and protections available in other states against employment discrimination and suspension or discharge of employees who are registered to use medical cannabis for qualifying health conditions.

The working group will also consider health and safety requirements for the manufacture of edible cannabis products and any requirements and limitations for the types of allowable edible cannabis products, including restrictions on gummies, brightly colored candies, or other products that may attract children or resemble commercially available products marketed to children or adolescents.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Janice Okubo
Communications Office
Phone: (808) 586-4445