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| |  Gov. Linda Lingle Breaks Her Word To The Voters
August 25, 2008
Honolulu Hawaii Although at least half a dozen bills that would have improved marijuana policy in Hawaii were introduced this session, only one made it to the governor's desk. In July, Gov. Linda Lingle (R) vetoed HB 2675, which would have established a temporary task force comprised of state officials, physicians, and patients to examine critical issues affecting Hawaii's medical marijuana program. Although the Senate voted overwhelmingly (21-1) to override Gov. Lingle's veto, the House failed to follow suit, which means that questions regarding adequate supply, growing facilities, and the inter-island transport of medical marijuana will remain unanswered for at least another year. Gov. Lingle's veto was surprising given her 2002 campaign pledge which is shown below, to uphold Hawaii's medical marijuana law. In her official veto statement, Gov. Lingle claimed that, since the federal government doesn't recognize the medical value of marijuana, the studies proposed by HB 2675 would be improper. Interestingly, the federal government grows medical marijuana at the University of Mississippi, distributes it monthly to four patients throughout the U.S., and has done this for 30 years. Governor Lingle has clearly broken her promise to her constituents to uphold the medical marijuana law that she promised to uphold in 2002. Let Governor Lingle know just how disappointed that you are in her veto of HB2675. 2002 campaign pledge 
Veto Statement of HB2675 
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