State names marijuana dispensary review panel
STAR-ADVERTISER / DEC. 2014
Three legal cannabis plants in the home of Jari Kaneshiro for her daughter’s seizure treatment. The state Department of Health this morning announced the selection panel that will review the first Medical Marijuana Dispensary licensees.
The five-member panel that will approve Hawaii medical marijuana dispensary licenses includes a University of Hawaii professor, a retired Hawaii Supreme Court justice, a scientist, a longtime agriculture advocate and the head of the state’s Office of Health Care Assurance.
The state Department of Health this morning announced the selection panel, which will review the first Medical Marijuana Dispensary licensees.
“It is critical that the selection process be as fair and objective as possible and free from improper outside influence,” said Health Director Virginia Pressler in a press release. “It is equally important that the process be as transparent as possible without compromising its integrity.”
Hawaii legalized medical cannabis in 2000 but did not provide a way for patients to obtain the drug. The health department is authorized to issue eight licenses to sell medical cannabis: three on Oahu, two each on Hawaii island and Maui, and one on Kauai. Each licensee will be allowed to operate two production centers and two retail centers for a total of 16 dispensaries statewide.
The review panel is to select successful applicants by April 15.
Panel members were screened for potential conflicts with any of the dispensary license applicants or persons associated with the applicants, the health department said.
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The members are:
H. David Bess, a professor of management and transportation at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He teaches courses in organizational behavior, the external environment of business and human resources management, and has more than 40 years of experience in administrative positions at UH.
James E. Duffy, Jr., retired state Supreme Court justice, was a founding member of the firm Fujiyama Duffy and Fujiyama and a trial lawyer for 35 years. He has served as a mediator, arbitrator and special master for matters involving business, commercial, real estate, insurance, employment, labor, trust, probate, tort, products liability, personal injury and professional liability.
John Fisher III, a doctor of pharmacy, is a scientific director of Keystone Laboratories and a lab inspector for the College of American Pathologists. He was a founding incorporator of the Alabama Poison Center in 1981 and served as its director until 2013. Fisher is a diplomate of the American Board of Applied Toxicology and a fellow at the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology. He has been the scientific director at the College of American Pathologists, a certified forensic urine drug testing laboratory, and has served as a laboratory inspector for certifying organizations.
Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser, is deputy to the chair of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture. A longtime agriculture advocate, she served as president of Mikilua Poultry Farm in Waianae and vice president of the Associated Producers Corp. in Honolulu. Shimabukuro-Geiser is a member of the World Poultry Science Association and the Gamma Sigma Delta Agricultural Honor Society.
Keith R. Ridley, is the chief of the Office of Health Care Assurance at the state Department of Health. Ridley has overall management and operational responsibility for the state licensure of all health care facilities and federal certification survey program for all Medicare facilities in the state. Prior to joining the department in 2008, he was an independent health care consultant specializing in long-range planning and project management.
39 responses to “State names marijuana dispensary review panel”
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NONSENSE! Since they were all appointed–they have strings attached. More Puppetry by the current ruling Puppetmasters…
No names from my past, they should be OK!
One of the names is familiar from my past surprisingly, and if it’s the same person I’m thinking of, congratulations!! I have no interest in the dispensaries, because at this time I have no need for weed.
And, for me there are three names I consider personal friends and leaders in Hawaii. Interesting.
Then I hope u r not one of those applying for the licenses.
Jonathan_Patrick, I oppose legalizing medical and recreational marijuana. It’s a freeway to destruction of many of our young people. Also, it remains a Schedule I illegal drug.
Do any of them have “first hand experience” with the subject matter? LOL
Don’t ask, don’t tell.
That was probably one of the criteria/prerequisites to getting appointed to the panel. Don’t want any ‘amateurs’ on that selection/evaluation committee, only ‘experts’. “Must have qualified experience with Maui Wowie, Kauai Electric, Kona Gold, Puna Butter, Michoacan,….”
So what criteria will they use? How will they score proposals? If these and other basic elements are on the record beforehand, the selection of licensees will be arbitrary, subject to political and other pressure, and subject to legal challenges.
Obviously only one criteria. The size of the little brown envelopes that accompany the application. lol
I just about bet you know more and are asking more questions than those getting the cushy jobs.
Criteria and proposals?: Taste, texture, and aroma of the baked goods (brownies, cookies, etc.). Potency of product based on THC concentration and ‘time-to-effect’. Color quality (appearance) of the buds and leaves. Aromatic properties of the joint while combustion is occurring. Cross-compare all applicant’s products and score each one. Repeat the entire process to ensure scientific method of replication of results. Double-blind testing of all entries. Continued and on-going testing of all products to ensure consistency of results.
Hahahaha
Didn’t ex judge Duffy write a letter of recommendation to another federal judge so that Albert Hee who was convicted for tax evasion, could get a greatly reduced sentenced or just probation?
Why don’t they just receive applications from anyone who meets the specific guidelines to grow and distribute weed, and then choose the authorized dealers with a RANDOM LOTTERY?
Because that’s too fair, too logical, too honest, and makes too much common sense.
If the guys from UH and Department of Health do not choose State legislature Kalani English’s group as one of the eight to be Hawaii legsl weed dealers, they can forget any budget increases, in fact they can expect budget cuts as retribution. Foregrt the BS response that English does not decide on UH or Department of Health budgets, it was revealed that State legislatures horse trade power and influence and alliances by transfering campaign funds between legislatures. Was also in the news State legislatures refuse to release their emails as State legislatures because it would probably reveal this type of horse trading, favors, ice outs and evidence of grease palming.
So tired of seeing panels, cabinets, those powerful positions be almost completely male. Really, you could only find one qualified woman? Yeah, right.
Along that almost same line of thought, one representing H.P.D. on this panel would make better sense than having an “all white collar” one. Those who work the streets often have a valued perspective sometimes not even imagined by panel members assembled like this one.
We need an expert on Pakalolo. Where is Bu Laia?
He’s too busy ‘testing and evaluating’ the product(s)?
yeah but he works in accounting.
He can multi-task; puff, write down some numbers, toke, count the buds, inhale, compare with the ‘puff’. Now look for the roach clip.
Bill Clinton would be useless because he would not inhale.
What a waste of time money and effort. Just legalize marijuana already. Should never have been made illegal in the first place. It is time to stand up for freedom and have a little faith in the free enterprise system. This bureaucracy is just not needed.
AMEN! How will they fill the Privately-Owned Prisons?
Exactly!
No, got to protect the weak!
Legalize it and tax it just like tobacco, making it subject to all of the public smoking restrictions. Insurance companies will penalize anyone with their rates much as they do for consumers of alcohol and tobacco.
Come back to earth!
SA should not have listed the name of plant owner from the picture.
one could look up her address and try to steal them.
Exactly!! SA has no common sense.
This state is so good at setting up new panels for everything. Must be a lot of kickbacks getting passed out and not a lot that over gets done from a lot of over paid “experts”.
What about Neil Abercrombie? They forgot him.
Neil is shivering in Buffalo.
Technocrats with an agenda towards tyranny via tax, control, deny, delay and demand that which is not theirs! Only a technocrat would desire to demand money for a plant that is easier to grow than tomatoes! How about they get out of the way and allow anyone that wishes to grow pakalolo to do so at their own desire and initiative! What a thought! It is called FREEDOM!!
Ping Pong balls please. There is no way to ensure fairness with 66 applicants for 8 licenses. A lottery is the only way to ensure total fairness
Why limit to eight? Competition will result in the best product at the lowest price.