Licensed smokers said they need a secure place to grow their pot plants without fear of being hassled by police or robbed by criminals. That's something Brian Murphy said happened to him two months ago.

"Break into my house with guns, pistol-whipped me and stole my three ounces of marijuana and three hundred dollars," he said.

"They will know where the marijauna is being grown, they will know where the facilities are, it will all be under the Department of Health," said Rep. Bertram, "and you would have to do it in this type of facility in order to do it legally."

Right now, there are 4,047 medical marijuana patients in Hawaii. More than half are on the Big Island. Most grow their own pot. And there are 368 registered caregivers, people who help grow pot for a patient.

Disabled veteran Allan Dougherty, 84, is one of three patients who testified in support of the bill.

"If I walk a little too much, I get pain in my ankle," he said, "I take a couple of hits of pot and I forget about the pain."

But the bill faces several challenges.

The Department of Public Safety said establishing such a facility would violate federal law even though state law allows for the growth of marijuana for medical use.

And since the bill would have the Department of Health overseeing the operation, the state could beheld liable for any adverse reaction among patients.

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