REPRESENTATIVE MIZUNO, CVC PHARMACY, ANNOUNCE INSTALLATION OF DRUG DISPOSAL UNITS AT 17 LONGS DRUGS STORES

Effort to help combat prescription drug diversion and misuse in Hawaiʻi 

 WHO:             Representative John Mizuno, Chair, House Committee on Health

WHAT:          Installation of drug disposal units at 17 Longs Drugs Stores completed

WHEN:          Friday, September 27

                        10 a.m.

WHERE:       Longs Drugs

                        Kamehameha Shopping Center

1620 North School St.

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – State Representative John Mizuno, author of HB1272 which was signed into law as Act 183, allows for such drug take back in Hawaiʻi. Mizuno will join representatives from CVS Pharmacy to announce the completed installation of drug disposal units in 17 Longs Drugs stores across the State, including nine on Oʻahu. 

The disposal program is designed to help address the diversion and misuse of unwanted or unneeded prescription medication -- including opioids.

"We need to make sure that prescription drugs that are no longer needed by the patients they were meant for are disposed of properly and don't fall into the wrong hands," said Mizuno (Kalihi Valley, Kamehameha Heights, portion of Lower Kalihi). "I want to thank CVS and Longs Drugs for supporting this program to help our residents."

REPRESENTATIVE ELI TO HOST COMMUNITY PRESENTATION ON THE FORMER MĀ‘ILI POINT VOICE OF AMERICA TRANSMITTER SITE

WHO:             Representative Stacelynn K.M. Eli

                        U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)

                        Hawaiʻi Department of Health

WHAT:          Presentation on the restoration of the Ma‘ili Point former Voice of America Transmitter site

WHEN:          Thursday, September 26

                        6:30 p.m.

WHERE:       Kamehameha School's Community Learning Center

                        87-790 Kulauka Street

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – Representative Stacelynn Eli is co-sponsoring a community meeting with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the Hawaii Department of Health to discuss the restoration of the Ma‘ili Point former Voice of America Transmitter site.

At the meeting a project team from the U.S. Coast Guard will discuss what was done to complete the restoration of the transmitter site.

The Department of Health will talk about the project and the next steps for the site.

"Please join us to hear what has been done and what is planned for the future at the site," said Representative Eli (‘Ewa Villages, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale, Nanakai Gardens, Ko ‘Olina, Kahe Point, Nānākuli, Lualualei, Mā‘ili). "I want to thank the Coast Guard and the Department of Health for their work on this project and believe it will be a great benefit for our community."

HOUSE SPEAKER SAIKI NAMES LYNN McCRORY TO HART BOARD

Appointment expected to bring accountability to City’s rail project

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – House Speaker Scott K. Saiki today appointed Lynn McCrory to serve as a non-voting ex-officio member of the Board of Directors for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART).

McCrory fills the vacancy left following the resignation of Kamani Kualaʻau, with her term expiring on December 31, 2021.

McCrory is the Senior Vice President for Government Affairs at Lanaʻi Resorts LLC and previously was President of PAHIO Development Inc. on Kauaʻi with responsibilities for community and government relations.

"Lynn McCrory has extensive experience in the planning and development of commercial projects both in Hawaiʻi and on the mainland," said Speaker Saiki. "She has worked closely with community members and government agencies and will be a great asset to the HART board. I am very grateful that she is willing to accept this appointment and look forward to her feedback."

McKELVEY PRAISES MAUI COUNCIL COMMITTEE VOTE TO SETTLE SUPREME COURT APPEAL

Lawmaker hopeful that the full council will also settle Lahaina Wastewater Facility issue

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi –Representative Angus L.K. McKelvey applauded the decision by the Maui County Council's Governance, Ethics, and Transparency Committee to settle the injection well case rather than pursuing it to the United States Supreme Court.

"I humbly thank the members of the committee for recommending that the County withdraw its lawsuit from before the Supreme Court. While I am pleased with today's outcome, it is important to note that further action will still be required to consecrate this decision," said McKelvey (West Maui, Mā‘alaea, North Kīhei). "I am hopeful the supporting members will continue to be steadfast in the same course of action by the Council as whole. I humbly ask those who are not in support of today's recommendation to reexamine the issues again in light of the new letter from the Department of Health to the County."

The county had argued that because pollutants did not flow directly into the ocean but rather flowed indirectly through injection wells, no permits under the Clean Water Act are required.

COMMITTEES TO HEAR TESTIMONY ON MEDICAL USE OF CANNABIS AND HEMP-DERIVED CANNABIDIOL

WHO:             Representative John Mizuno, Chair, House Committee on Health

Senator Rosalyn Baker, Chair, Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health

WHAT:          Informational Briefing on cannabis and hemp-derived cannabidiol

WHEN:          Thursday, September 12

                        9:30 a.m.

                       

WHERE:       Hawaii State Capitol

                        Room 329

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi –The House Committee on Health and the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health Committee will hold an informational briefing to review Hawaii's policy on Medical Cannabis and improve the safety of integrative healthcare options for Hawaiʻi's people based upon recent scientific research and best practices in other jurisdictions.

Hawaiʻi is faced with potential public health risks arising from consumption of unregulated sales of products reportedly containing CBD on the internet and through so-called CBD dispensaries, spas, gyms, health food stores, convenience stores, and even gas stations.

This briefing will seek to accomplish these four goals:

• Examine the benefits of Medical Cannabis therapy including as a safe alternative to prescription opioids for pain relief
• Understand the risks associated with human consumption of unregulated hemp-derived CBD; review state hemp cultivation and manufacturing policies and CBD regulations in other jurisdictions
• Review other jurisdictions who provide for rational protections for employees registered in the state’s Medical Cannabis Registry program.
• Begin a discussion about Hawaiʻi’s need for a well-considered, thoughful transition to a “dual use” program that allows both medical and adult social use of cannabis.

HEALTH COMMITTEES TO DISCUSS HOSPICE CARE

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi –The House Committee on Health and the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health Committee will hold an informational briefing on current trends in hospice care at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 11 in room 329 at the State Capitol.

Healthcare professionals are increasingly seeing hospice as an important way to improve care and the quality of life for terminally ill patients. Hospice is available around the state and seen as best practice, but there is still much more that we can do as state to educate the community and make hospice care more accessible and acceptable.

In this informational briefing, two experts from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), the leading professional organization promoting excellence in hospice care, will speak on current and future trends in hospice regulation and the intersection of policy and quality of care. They will also provide an update on the progress being made across the nation to increase the availability of Palliative Care in a variety of healthcare settings.