Executive Order No. 24-06, Guidance Regarding Medical Cannabis Primary Caregivers

On December 30, 2024, Governor Josh Green signed Executive Order No. 24-06, Guidance Regarding Medical Cannabis Primary Caregivers.  The executive order was signed in response to the HRS §329-130(a) requirement that, after December 31, 2024, no primary caregiver shall be authorized to cultivate cannabis for any qualifying patient, unless the patient is a minor or resides on a island without a licensed dispensary.

In an effort to reduce negative health outcomes as a result of primary caregivers’ authority to cultivate for qualifying patients, Governor Green, through the executive order:

  • Acknowledges that primary caregivers were granted the authority to cultivate up to ten cannabis plants because qualifying patients with a debilitating medical condition may not be able to cultivate cannabis themselves;
  • Acknowledges that the expiration of the authority of a primary caregiver to cultivate cannabis for a qualifying patient may lead to negative health outcomes for some qualifying patients;
  • States that the Department of Health Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation (OMCCR) has limited resources to investigate and enforce minor violations of HRS Ch. 329, part IX, concerning primary caregivers;
  • Orders OMCCR to de-prioritize investigation of minor violations of HRS Ch. 329, part IX, which would include a primary caregiver cultivating an “adequate supply” of cannabis for one qualifying patient.

The executive order allows primary caregivers to continue performing their duties without fear of Department of Health enforcement action, so long as they do not commit other significant violations of HRS Ch. 329, part IX.

Patients submitting new or renewal applications to OMCCR will be unable to officially designate a primary caregiver to cultivate cannabis on their behalf beginning January 1, 2025.   The Department of Health has drafted proposed legislation for the 2025 legislative session, which, if passed, will ensure that primary caregivers may continue to cultivate for their designated patients.

Link to Executive Order

If you have questions, please call 808-733-2177 or email [email protected].

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If you are planning on acquiring medical cannabis from a dispensary, you must have 1) your valid 329 card, and 2) valid state ID, valid state driver’s license, or valid passport on your person to gain entry.

The Hawaii Department of Health is responsible for administering two distinct but related medical cannabis programs.

  • Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Program
  • Medical Cannabis Dispensary Program

Both are designed to ensure medical cannabis is accessible for Hawaii’s patients, while making patient safety and public safety its ultimate priorities.

Please click on the Blue Button below for more information about each program.

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Medical Cannabis

Patient Registry Program

Hawaii law requires all qualified patients to be registered with the Medical Cannabis Patient Registry Program before they begin to use cannabis for medicinal purposes. The registration process begins when:

  1. A license Physician or Advanced practice registered nurse certifies the health condition can benefit from medical cannabis
  2. Patient creates and registers with the DOH medmj.ehawaii.gov account
  3. DOH reviews, approves and issues a 329 Registration Card

DOH’s goal is to issue the patient’s 329 Registration Card in a timely manner so that patients can begin or continue to legally use medical cannabis.
DOH is required to provide law enforcement officials with limited access to the Medical Cannabis Registry Program’s database as a tool to safeguard the community against illegal cannabis use and/or illegal cannabis grow sites.

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Medical Cannabis

Dispensary Program

The Hawaii Department of Health’s Dispensary Licensing program monitor’s the quality of the cannabis products from seed to sale. This includes statewide oversight of the laboratories that test the safety and quality of the cannabis and manufactured cannabis products, and monitoring of the dispensaries who will grow, manufacture, and sell the products to qualified patients.
Act 241 was signed into law in July 2015 and became Chapter 329D, HRS.  The Hawaii Department of Health will begin administering the Medical Cannabis Dispensary Program in 2016 and dispensaries may begin to dispense medical cannabis and manufactured medical cannabis products as early as July 2016 with departmental approval.
Medical cannabis has been legal in Hawaii since 2000, but access to medical cannabis remained a challenge.  Patients and caregivers could legally grow their own cannabis plants within certain parameters.  Advocates of medical cannabis have hailed the dispensary program as a major breakthrough. The goal of the dispensary licensure program is to make medicinal products readily available for registered patients while balancing the health and safety of patients and the public.
Dispensary Applicants, be sure to regularly check Dispensary Updates (on the left side of this page) for information on dispensary licensing requirements, frequently asked questions (FAQ), and other valuable updates.

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The Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation (OMCCR) has been tasked by the Department of Health to regulate the processing of hemp into cannabinoid containing hemp products and their sale to consumers in Hawaii. Click the link above for access to information on how to obtain a hemp processor permit, guidance documents for industry and the public and applicable laws and interim rules.