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KAT WADE / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER
Jari Sugano tends to her legal cannabis plants at her home in Mililani. The plants are used to treat her daughter’s seizures.
Hawaii lawmakers are disagreeing on a bill that would establish an islandwide system of medical marijuana dispensaries.
Lawmakers have until Friday to finalize the extensive bill. But in a conference committee hearing Wednesday, the committee chairmen clashed on key parts of the proposal.
Sen. Josh Green wants the system to issue a small number of dispensary licenses. In his vision, each licensee would handle distribution, manufacturing and production, and the licenses would only go to health care providers.
But Rep. Della Au Bellati says that approach would create a monopoly for big marijuana companies.
The committee postponed making a decision until Thursday.
