About the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii

Posted on April 26, 2013 by

Welcome to our new website, launched May 2013. Some sections are still under construction, thank you for your patience.

We are seeking a part-time Executive Director!  Applications being accepted through July 15, 2013.  Click here to download the job description.

The Drug Policy Forum of Hawai‘i is a non-profit organization founded in 1993 to encourage the development of effective drug policies that minimize economic, social, and human costs, and to promote the consideration of pragmatic approaches to drug policy based on:

  • Scientific principles
  • Effective outcomes
  • Public-health considerations
  • Concern for human dignity
  • Enhancing the well-being of individuals and communities
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The most influential man in the battle for legalization is a wonky intellectual in dad jeans

Posted on June 14, 2013 by

by Tim Dickinson

Rolling Stone Magazine, JUNE 06, 2013

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The driving force for the legalization of marijuana in America – a frenetic, whip-smart son of a rabbi who can barely tell indica from sativa – has just entered enemy territory. Ethan Nadelmann, the executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, is here in California’s crucible of conservatism, Orange County, to talk about the failure of the War on Drugs and why the government should leave pot smokers alone. As a grizzled ex-DEA agent glares at him from the audience of a lecture hall on the campus of U.C. Irvine, it’s clear that this crowd has not gathered to celebrate cannabis culture. And that’s just the way Nadelmann likes it.

http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/ethan-nadelmann-the-real-drug-czar-20130606

Posted in criminal justice, Drug policy - national, Education, Harm reduction, health, Marijuana, Medical marijuana, News | Leave a comment

Hawaii Supreme Court rejects conviction of medical marijuana patient

Posted on June 3, 2013 by

State_of_Hawaii_seal

“The Hawaii Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of a Hawaii island medical marijuana user who was found with a small amount of cannabis at Kona Airport.

Geoffrey Woodall had a valid medical marijuana certificate but was still convicted under state laws for the two grams of marijuana discovered when he went through airport security screening.

In a 4-1 ruling Friday, the justices held that a conflict in state laws on the issue must be resolved in favor of Woodhall.

The majority said he must be acquitted.”

http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/20130601_Hawaii_justices_reject_conviction_of_cannabis_user.html?id=209773721&id=209773721&c=n (Paywall)

http://mauifeed.com/state-of-hawaii/hawaii-supreme-court-overturns-medical-cannabis-ruling-and-reveals-flaws-in-pot-laws/

http://bigislandnow.com/2013/06/03/supreme-court-rules-in-favor-of-medical-marijuana-patient/

http://hawaiisupremecourtopinions.justia.com/2013/06/01/state-v-woodhall/

Posted in criminal justice, Drug policy = Hawaii, Harm reduction, health, Medical marijuana, News | Leave a comment

Letter to the editor: Patients need legal pot dispensaries

Posted on May 30, 2013 by

hsa_logo

Honolulu Star Advertiser 5/28/13

Patients need legal pot dispensaries

Like the Star-Advertiser (“Medical cannabis belongs under health auspices,” Our View, May 23), we applaud the Legislature’s improvements to the state’s 13-year-old program. The measures passed this session are a promising start to a much-needed update.

You have the details backward, however, in your description of Senate Bill 642: The new law would increase the amount a patient may possess to 4 ounces, and replace the confusing “three mature, four immature plants” language with a simple seven plants total.

To further clarify, medical marijuana is not “prescribed (and) dispensed” at present. Physicians write a recommendation, not a prescription (which is not recognized under federal law), and marijuana is not legally “dispensed” by anyone.

A tightly regulated state-authorized system of distribution remains the highest priority for patients in Hawaii, especially for those, like many kupuna, who are unable to grow their own and are still forced to the black market to obtain their medicine.

Pamela Lichty
President, Drug Policy Action Group

Posted in Advocacy, Drug policy = Hawaii, Education, Harm reduction, health, Medical marijuana, News, Opinion | Leave a comment

MidWeek Magazine profiles Dr. David Barton: “Medical Cannabis Safe, Effective”

Posted on May 30, 2013 by

covershot12

http://www.midweek.com/medical-cannabis-safe-effective/

“Thankfully, the Hawaii State Legislature took a bold stand more than a decade ago, in the face of great political pressure, which still exists, and allowed for legal use by chronically ill and disabled people.

Chronic pain is the No. 1 medical condition in the United States, with an estimated 75 million to 100 million Americans living with it. At least 20 million to 25 million Americans live with severe pain. In Hawaii, it is conservatively estimated that more than 100,000 live with moderate to severe pain from all causes, including arthritic degeneration, trauma, metabolic conditions such as diabetes, and cancer or its treatment.”

Posted in Advocacy, Drug policy = Hawaii, Education, Harm reduction, health, Medical marijuana, News, Research | Leave a comment

Opinion poll on Hawaii marijuana laws shows voters open to medical dispensaries, decriminalization

Posted on May 29, 2013 by

DPAGlogobig

Read the reports: http://freshapproachhawaii.org/2013/01/19/opinion-poll-on-hawaii-marijuana-laws/

Respected local polling firm QMark Research was commissioned by the Drug Policy Action Group (the lobbying arm of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii)  to conduct a statewide, statistically significant poll of 600 Hawaii voters. The poll occurred between November 19 and December 4, 2012. Among its findings:

  •  78% support a dispensary system for medical marijuana.
  • 69% think that jail time for marijuana offenses is inappropriate.
  • 57% favor legalized, taxed and regulated marijuana, 20% higher than the last poll conducted in 2005.

Independent U.H. economist David Nixon was commissioned to update a 2005 study on the state of marijuana law enforcement in Hawaii. He was asked to examine the costs of current law enforcement policies, and to predict the economic impacts if Hawaii were to decriminalize or legalize, tax and regulate marijuana. Among his findings:

  • Hawaii has seen a surge in marijuana arrests since 2004. Possession arrests have increased almost 50%, and distribution arrests have almost doubled.
  • Hawaii’s marijuana laws overly impact males under the age of 25 and people of native Hawaiian descent. These groups were arrested in numbers disproportionate to their share of the population.
  • By decriminalizing marijuana, Hawaii could redirect over $9 M annually in law enforcement costs.
  • By legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana, Hawaii could conservatively add an additional estimated $11 M in yearly revenues.
Posted in Advocacy, criminal justice, Drug policy = Hawaii, Education, Harm reduction, health, Marijuana, Medical marijuana, News, Opinion, Research, Resources | Leave a comment

New infographic – Hawaii’s medical marijuana program by the numbers

Posted on April 18, 2013 by

Many statistics get thrown around when people talk about Hawaii’s medical marijuana program. Looking for a fast guide to the facts – with citations? Here it is!

http://dpfhi.wordpress.com/hawaiis-medical-marijuana-program-by-the-numbers-infographic/

Posted in Advocacy, Drug policy = Hawaii, Education, Harm reduction, health, Medical marijuana | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

U.S. House Members File Bipartisan “Respect States’ Marijuana Laws Act”

Posted on April 18, 2013 by

“This bill is a win for federalism and a win for public safety,” said Neill Franklin, a former Maryland narcotics detective and now executive director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. “In a time of bitter partisanship, it is quite telling that both Republicans and Democrats are calling for respect for the reform of marijuana laws. Polls show this is a winning issue for politicians, and change is inevitable. We applaud those legislators who, rather than trying to impede this progress, stand with the vast majority of Americans who believe these laws should be respected.”

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2013/apr/12/house_members_file_bipartisan_re

Posted in Advocacy, criminal justice, Drug policy - national, Harm reduction, health, Marijuana, Medical marijuana, News | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New report documents nationwide racial, economic disparities in incarceration

Posted on April 17, 2013 by

Newly released report: “The reasoning is clear: the combination of excessive incarceration and harsh punishment is a blunt instrument for social control that perpetuates the country’s painful, historical legacy of injustice and inequality, and deprives masses of black and brown people unfairly of freedom and opportunity. It is the site of today’s civil rights struggle.”

http://www.aclu.org/criminal-law-reform/ending-mass-incarceration-charting-new-justice-reinvestment

Posted in criminal justice, Drug policy - national, Education, Harm reduction, health, Marijuana, News, Research | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Illinois doctors ask for medical marijuana legalization

Posted on April 17, 2013 by

AP Story: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Doctors-ask-for-medical-marijuana-legalization-4438625.php

“Nearly 250 Illinois physicians put their names behind a proposal Tuesday that would legalize marijuana for patients with serious illnesses, hoping to give a boost to the legislation one day before an anticipated vote on the House floor.

Three of those doctors spoke at a press conference in Chicago, saying the drug can be a safer and more effective treatment than narcotics for patients with diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease and HIV.”

Posted in Advocacy, Drug policy - national, Medical marijuana, News | Leave a comment