§329-122 Medical use of cannabis; conditions of use. (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the medical use of cannabis by a qualifying patient shall be permitted only if:

(1) The qualifying patient has been diagnosed by a physician or advanced practice registered nurse as having a debilitating medical condition;

(2) The qualifying patient's physician or advanced practice registered nurse has certified in writing that, in the physician's or advanced practice registered nurse's professional opinion, the potential benefits of the medical use of cannabis would likely outweigh the health risks for the particular qualifying patient; and

(3) The amount of cannabis possessed by the qualifying patient does not exceed an adequate supply.

(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a qualifying patient under the age of eighteen years, unless:

(1) The qualifying patient's physician or advanced practice registered nurse has explained the potential risks and benefits of the medical use of cannabis to the qualifying patient and to a parent, guardian, or person having legal custody of the qualifying patient; and

(2) A parent, guardian, or person having legal custody consents in writing to:

(A) Allow the qualifying patient's medical use of cannabis;

(B) Serve as the qualifying patient's primary caregiver; and

(C) Control the acquisition of the cannabis, the dosage, and the frequency of the medical use of cannabis by the qualifying patient.

(c) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the medical use of cannabis within the State by a qualifying out-of-state patient aged eighteen years or older legally authorized to use cannabis for medical purposes in another state, a United States territory, or the District of Columbia shall be permitted only if the qualifying out-of-state patient:

(1) Provides to the department of health a valid medical use of cannabis card with an explicit expiration date that has not yet passed from the issuing jurisdiction and a valid photographic identification card or driver's license issued by the same jurisdiction;

(2) Attests under penalty of law pursuant to section 710-1063 that the condition for which the qualifying out-of-state patient is legally authorized to use cannabis for medical purposes is a debilitating medical condition as defined in section 329-121;

(3) Provides consent for the department of health to obtain information from the qualifying out-of-state patient's certifying medical provider and from the entity that issued the medical cannabis card for the purpose of allowing the department of health to verify the information provided in the registration process;

(4) Pays the required fee for out-of-state registration to use cannabis for medical purposes;

(5) Registers with the department of health pursuant to section 329-123.5 to use cannabis for medical purposes;

(6) Receives a medical cannabis registry card from the department of health; and

(7) Abides by all laws relating to the medical use of cannabis, including not possessing an amount of cannabis that exceeds an adequate supply.

(d) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the medical use of cannabis by a qualifying out-of-state patient under eighteen years of age shall only be permitted if:

(1) The caregiver of the qualifying out-of-state patient provides the information required pursuant to subsection (c); and

(2) The caregiver of the qualifying out-of-state patient consents in writing to:

(A) Allow the qualifying out-of-state patient's medical use of cannabis;

(B) Undertake the responsibility for managing the well-being of the qualifying out-of-state patient who is under eighteen years of age with respect to the medical use of cannabis; and

(C) Control the acquisition of the cannabis, the dosage, and the frequency of the medical use of cannabis by the qualifying out-of-state patient who is under eighteen years of age.

(e) The authorization for the medical use of cannabis in this section shall not apply to:

(1) The medical use of cannabis that endangers the health or well-being of another person;

(2) The medical use of cannabis:

(A) In a school bus, public bus, or any moving vehicle;

(B) In the workplace of one's employment;

(C) On any school grounds;

(D) At any public park, public beach, public recreation center, recreation or youth center; or

(E) At any other place open to the public; provided that a qualifying patient, primary caregiver, qualifying out-of-state patient, caregiver of a qualifying out-of-state patient, or an owner or employee of a medical cannabis dispensary licensed under chapter 329D shall not be prohibited from transporting cannabis or any manufactured cannabis product, as that term is defined in section 329D-1, in any public place; provided further that the cannabis or manufactured cannabis product shall be transported in a sealed container, not be visible to the public, and shall not be removed from its sealed container or consumed or used in any way while it is in the public place; and

(3) The use of cannabis by a qualifying patient, parent, primary caregiver, qualifying out-of-state patient, or caregiver of a qualifying out-of-state patient, for purposes other than medical use permitted by this part.

(f) For the purposes of this section, "transport" means the transportation of cannabis, usable cannabis, or any manufactured cannabis product between:

(1) A qualifying patient and the qualifying patient's primary caregiver;

(2) A qualifying out-of-state patient under eighteen years of age and the caregiver of a qualifying out-of-state patient;

(3) The production centers and the retail dispensing locations under a dispensary licensee's license; or

(4) A production center, retail dispensing location, qualifying patient, primary caregiver, qualifying out-of-state patient, or caregiver of a qualifying out-of-state patient and a certified laboratory for the purpose of laboratory testing; provided that a qualifying patient, primary caregiver, qualifying out-of-state patient, or caregiver of a qualifying out-of-state patient may only transport up to one gram of cannabis per test to a certified laboratory for laboratory testing and may only transport the product if the qualifying patient, primary caregiver, qualifying out-of-state patient, or caregiver of a qualifying out-of-state patient:

(A) Secures an appointment for testing at a certified laboratory;

(B) Obtains confirmation, which may be electronic, that includes the specific time and date of the appointment and a detailed description of the product and amount to be transported to the certified laboratory for the appointment; and

(C) Has the confirmation, which may be electronic, available during transport.

For purposes of interisland transportation, "transport" of cannabis, usable cannabis, or any manufactured cannabis product, by any means is allowable only between a production center or retail dispensing location and a certified laboratory for the sole purpose of laboratory testing pursuant to section 329D-8, as permitted under section 329D-6(m) and subject to section 329D-6(j), and with the understanding that state law and its protections do not apply outside of the jurisdictional limits of the State. Allowable transport pursuant to this section does not include interisland transportation by any means or for any purpose between a qualified patient, primary caregiver, qualifying out-of-state patient, or caregiver of a qualifying out-of-state patient and any other entity or individual, including an individual who is a qualified patient, primary caregiver, qualifying out-of-state patient, or caregiver of a qualifying out-of-state patient. [L 2000, c 228, pt of §2; am L 2001, c 55, §15; am L 2013, c 178, §3; am L 2015, c 241, §7; am L 2016, c 230, §8; am L 2017, c 41, §3 and c 170, §2; am L 2018, c 116, §5]

Revision Note

"Marijuana" changed to "cannabis" to conform to L 2017, c 170, pursuant to §23G-15.

Law Journals and Reviews

Gonzales v. Raich: How the Medical Marijuana Debate Invoked Commerce Clause Confusion. 28 UH L. Rev. 261.

Case Notes

Rule of lenity required the construction, under the specific facts of the case, of §§329-121 and 329-125 and this section against the government, as there was an irreconcilable inconsistency between the authorized transportation of medical marijuana under §329-121, and the prohibition on transport of medical marijuana through "any ... place open to the public" under subsection [(c)(2)(E)]; thus, under §701-115(2)(b), petitioner was entitled to an acquittal because petitioner's evidence, when considered in light of any contrary prosecution evidence proved by a preponderance of the evidence the specified fact or facts with negatived penal liability. 129 H. 397, 301 P.3d 607 (2013).