HI HR63

Requests the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to conduct a study determining fair wages for medical marijuana dispensary support staff employees in Hawaii.

Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, in cooperation with the Department of Health, to identify necessary positions within medical marijuana dispensaries.

Directs the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to review wages for medical marijuana dispensary positions in other jurisdictions and use that information to determine appropriate fair wages for Hawaii's medical marijuana workforce.

Background: Act 241 (2015) established a licensing system allowing up to eight medical marijuana dispensary licenses statewide, with dispensaries authorized to begin operations no sooner than July 15, 2016.

Rationale: Hawaii has the highest cost of living among states with average Honolulu home prices of $868,317, necessitating fair compensation for new medical marijuana industry workers.