A bill aimed at improving Hawaii's medical-marijuana law was vetoed by Gov. Linda Lingle, and the state House failed to bring an override vote to the floor, the Hawaii Tribune Herald reported July 11.

The state Senate had voted 20-1 in favor of a veto override.

The measure would have established a task force to determine the amount of marijuana that should constitute a patient's supply, legal ways to grow the drug on Hawaii for medical use, and other issues. Lingle, however, called the bill "an exercise aimed at finding ways to circumvent federal law.

"The use of marijuana, even medical marijuana, is illegal under federal law," she wrote in her veto message. "It is, therefore, inappropriate for the state to recommend ways to maintain or increase the supply of marijuana, to make recommendations regarding the development of marijuana growing facilities, or to seek ways to circumvent federal prohibitions regarding the transport of marijuana."

The governor also objected to establishing the task force at the University of Hawaii, saying it could jeopardize federal funding for the school. "While I am sympathetic toward those who suffer debilitating illnesses and appreciate organizations and advocates who are representing their interests, the task force should have at heart the interests of the community at large. There are a host of unintended consequences related to the proliferation of medical marijuana that this task force is not required to address."

Supporters said that some version of the legislation was likely to be reintroduced during the next session of the state legislature.