HAWAI`I’S MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAM TO BE
DISCUSSED AT PUBLIC TALK STORY EVENT

Community invited to share concerns about Hawai`i’s medical cannabis program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Co-Chairs Pam Lichty, Drug Policy Forum of
October 20, 2009 Hawaii, (808) 224-3056 or Laurie Temple, ACLU of

Hawaii, (808) 522-5905

HONOLULU – The Medical Cannabis Working Group (“Working Group”) announced today that they
will be holding a public Medical Cannabis Talk Story on October 27, 2009 from 6:30-8pm at the
Hawai`i State Capitol, Conference Room 329. The Working Group invites all members of the public to
share their concerns about Hawai`i’s medical cannabis program (also referred to as the medical
marijuana program).

The Medical Cannabis Working Group is composed of organizations, medical professionals, patients
and caregivers with the purpose of examining problems with current medical cannabis laws. The
Working Group will provide a report to the Legislature prior to the 2010 legislative session with their
findings and recommendations, including information obtained from the Talk Story, for use in
developing legislation to improve the medical cannabis program.

To ensure that all issues with the medical cannabis program are addressed in its report and
recommendations, the Working Group is asking the public to attend and speak at the Talk Story or
complete and submit a questionnaire which will be available at the meeting, online at www.dpfhi.org, or
by request from co-chairs Pam Lichty at (808) 224-3056 or Laurie Temple at (808) 522-5905. Neighbor
island residents, in particular, are encouraged to submit their concerns via the questionnaire.

Speakers are asked to limit their Talk Story comments to three minutes to ensure that everyone is able to
speak. Limited metered parking is available in the State Capitol underground parking garage (accessible
via Miller St. off of Punchbowl St.) or at the Department of Health parking lot across from the Capitol.

Pam Lichty, Drug Policy Forum of Hawai`i President, stated, “In 2000, Hawai`i became the first state to
legislatively establish a medical cannabis program and is now joined by 12 other states. Since then, no
changes have been made to the law. It is long past time for Hawai`i to update its program so that sick
and dying patients’ needs are adequately served. We hope to provide Legislators with the knowledge
and tools to do just that.”

Laurie Temple, ACLU attorney, noted that, “This meeting and the formation of the Working Group is
particularly timely given that the United States Justice Department issued a policy directive just
yesterday stating that people who use marijuana for medical purposes and those who distribute it will
not face federal prosecution, provided that they act according to state law. Hopefully this directive will
end the confusion felt by state officials charged with administering our medical cannabis program and
clear the way for the program’s improvement.”