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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS <br /> AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT <br /> DATE: November 17, 2015 Re: Comm. No. 558/Res. No. 338-15 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Kona, Hawai`i <br /> TIME: 9:51 a.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawai`i County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development, to which was referred <br /> Resolution No. 338-15, reports as follows: <br /> Resolution No. 338-15, transmitted by Council Member Margaret Wille, via Communication <br /> No. 558, dated October 27, 2015, urges the Hawai`i State Legislature to amend Act 241, relating <br /> to medical marijuana, to address production centers in agricultural zoned lands and prohibitions <br /> on primary caregivers. The amendment would allow each county to adopt further regulations <br /> relating to where a medical marijuana production center can be located; and would allow a <br /> patient's registered primary caregiver to provide medical marijuana or manufactured marijuana <br /> products to one qualifying patient. <br /> There were five people who testified on this resolution. One person from each of the following <br /> locations: Hilo, Kona, Ka`u, Kohala, Kona, and Pahoa. <br /> Both Resolution No. 338-15 and Resolution No. 339-15 were read in to record. Council Member <br /> Wille made a motion to approve Resolution No. 338-15, seconded by Council Member Paleka. <br /> Council Member Wille expressed her thoughts on three points: (1) the County should have some <br /> say in terms of location of the production centers/dispensaries; (2) to remove the prohibition <br /> against eliminating the primary caregivers program; and (3) a county tax of up to five percent. <br /> Council Member Paleka shared his concern regarding the primary caregivers program being <br /> phased out in 2018. Het thinks it is a bad move and expressed support of the caregivers program. <br /> Council Chair Kanuha said he had concerns when this bill was going through the legislature. He <br /> agrees that the counties should have had a greater involvement within the bill and that the county <br /> should have a greater say over where the production centers and dispensaries are on agricultural <br /> land. He also stated his agreement with Council Members Paleka and Wille regarding <br /> caregivers. He said, if this is a way to tell the legislature that we do care more about what is <br /> happening, then it's a step in the right direction. <br /> GREDC Rept. No.: 3 <br />