The chief federal prosecutor for Hawaii says that suppliers operating under the state's medical-marijuana law should be required to undergo background checks to prevent abuses of the system, the Associated Press reported Jan. 28.

Prosecutor Ed Kubo said that a case involving a medical-marijuana supplier with a prior record as a drug trafficker demonstrated the need to tighten the state system. "There needs to be adequate procedures in place to allow for background checks, inspections, monitoring and reviews so that this law is not a farce," he said, adding that individuals with drug or felony convictions should not be allowed to act as medical-marijuana caregivers.

Kubo also called for allowing the state Department of Public Safety to conduct random inspections of medical-marijuana grow operations. "After all, we regulate liquor licenses by unannounced inspections and monitoring, and liquor is legal," he said.

State Rep.  John Mizuno, vice chairman of the House Health Committee, said the state Public Safety Department or U.S.  Attorney's Office should propose legislative language based on Kubo's suggestions. "We would definitely support something that makes it possible to do background checks to weed out these bad apples," said Mizuno.