HI HB1624

Establishes a three-year pilot medical marijuana research program administered by the Department of Public Safety, effective July 1, 2011, and sunset June 30, 2014.

Requires researchers to submit applications to the Department of Public Safety and pay a one-time $3,000 fee; approved researchers receive permits to conduct medical marijuana research.

Mandates research facilities be enclosed and secured with 24-hour video surveillance and digital archiving; access limited to principal researchers, employees, and qualifying patients who register the researcher as their primary caregiver.

Requires research protocols involving human subjects to obtain institutional review board approval and comply with Hawaii Revised Statutes chapter 329, part IX.

Amends section 329-123 to allow primary caregivers to care for multiple qualifying patients only when serving as researchers under this pilot program, while maintaining the standard one-patient limitation otherwise.