Urgent Action Request for SB 175, Move Program to DOH

Jim Finnel

Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
We are still working on SB 175 SD1 which proposes moving the medical marijuana program from the Department of Public Safety to the Department of Health, but we need your help. We believe phone calls and emails can make the difference. It would be a shame if this bill were to die without another hearing.

Right now, it's not looking good since both departments, and apparently the Governor, are still opposing it.

We need to flood the the Department of Public Safety with calls about the problems with the program, and we need to do this as soon as possible. We are asking you to do this, because it should get her attention and hopefully move the issue higher up on her agenda (and indirectly on the Governor's).

The hope is that if she is aware of all the many problems maybe she can rein in NED and take appropriate action.

CALL OR EMAIL:
WHO: Director Jodie Maesaka-Hirata
HOW: Email from this link: E-mail the Director — Department of Public Safety
or
Phone: 808 587-1288 or Fax: 808 587-1282
WHEN: ASAP!
WHAT: Tell her about the problems with NED's administration of the program emphasizing YOUR experience as patients, doctors or caregivers.
THEN ASK: "Director, if you are not willing or able to move the program to DOH, then make sure the NED Chief is adhering to the law and the Administrative Rules and NOT undermining the program by acting in an adversarial manner and opposing all improvements to the program."

GUIDELINES: Be polite! It's very important that we come off as reasonable people with legitimate complaints. We are, after all, taxpayers, parents, business people, etc., etc.

Examples: Delays in getting blue cards Adversarial behavior of Chief Kamita (e. g. appearing at Kauai County Council & Neighborhood Boards) Changes to forms without notice Calling doctors & patients to office for interrogation Testifying against any changes to the program Confidentiality breaches: in Hilo paper & "Top Ten" physicians' names in public presentations Refusal to post blank application forms on website or to supply them to potential patients Formal complaints filed by physicians with the State Ombudsman Bringing in law enforcement lobbyists from LA

WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO: You may want to send copies of your correspondence to your local newspaper and/or your legislator and the Governor.
Governor: email at this link: Contact Gov — Office of the Governor
phone: 808-586-0034
Fax: 808-586-0006

LEGISLATORS:
Search by street name for your legislator: HI Legislature

***PLEASE NOTE: Keith Kamita is no longer the Chief of the Narcotics Enforcement Division. That is now Derrick Nakamura. Kamita has been given a promotion to Deputy Director for Law Enforcement. So he is now the supervisor of NED.

Feel free to pass this on. The more people she hears from the better.

Jeanne Y. Ohta
Executive Director
Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii
 
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