S.B. 2820 Summary

• Removes the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances' duties related to scheduling controlled substances and recommending additions, deletions, or rescheduling of substances to the Department of Public Safety.

• Removes the commission's duty to advise the Department of Public Safety on establishment and maintenance of controlled substance classifications.

• Removes research-related duties including establishing methods to assess controlled substance effects, identifying substances with abuse potential, and conducting studies on drug abuse patterns and prevention.

• Retains and renumbers the commission's core duties: coordinating community drug abuse action programs, carrying out educational prevention programs, creating public awareness, advising the governor and state departments, and advising the director of health on substance abuse matters including alcohol and volatile organic solvents.

• Refocuses the commission on substance abuse as a public health issue rather than enforcement and scheduling functions.