Hawai‘i Department of Health approves fifth dispensary on Hawai‘i Island to begin retail sales of medical cannabis

Posted on Feb 5, 2020 in Newsroom

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) has approved Hawai‘i Island licensee Hawaiian Ethos LLC for its second licensed medical cannabis dispensary retail center located at 64-1035 Mamalahoa Hwy., Unit J, Waimea, HI 96743.

There are now 13 licensed retail dispensary locations operating on O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, Maui and Hawai‘i Island. Hawaiian Ethos opened its first retail location in Kailua-Kona in June 2019.  

As of January 31, 2020 there were approximately 8,018 registered patients and 502 caregivers on Hawai‘i Island representing 29 percent of patients and 22 percent of caregivers registered statewide. Severe pain is the primary qualifying medical condition reported for adult registered patients. Seizures, post-traumatic stress disorder, epilepsy, and severe pain are the primary reported conditions for children under 18 years of age.

Patient safety, product safety, and public safety remain the guiding principles of DOH’s Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation. “Every final batch of cannabis and manufactured cannabis products distributed by Hawaii’s retail locations has been tested and meets quality assurance requirements,” said Michele Nakata, supervisor of the Dispensary Licensing Section.

Other licensed retail centers operating in the state include:

Hawaii

  • Big Island Grown Dispensaries
    • 750 Kanoelehua Ave., Suite 104, in Hilo, which received its notice to proceed on Jan. 15, 2019;
    • 64-1040 Mamalahoa Highway in Kamuela, which received its notice to proceed on March 7, 2019;
    • 74-5617 Pawai Place, Kailua-Kona, which received its notice to proceed on July 26, 2019.
  • Hawaiian Ethos
    • 73-5613 Olowalu Street in Kailua, which received its notice to proceed on June 26, 2019;
    • 64-1035 Mamalahoa Hwy., Unit J, Waimea, which received its notice to proceed on Feb. 4, 2020.

Kauai

  • + GREEN ALOHĀ Dispensary
    • 4-1565 Kuhio Highway in Kapa‘a, which received its notice to proceed on May 18, 2018;

Maui

  • Maui Grown Therapies
    • 44 Pa‘a St. in Kahului, which received a notice to proceed on Aug. 8, 2017.
  • Pono Life Sciences Maui LLC
    • 415 Dairy Road in Kahului, which received its notice to proceed on Sept. 29, 2017.

Oahu

  • Aloha Green
    • Interstate Building at 1314 South King St. in Honolulu, which received its notice to proceed on Aug. 9, 2017;
    • 2113 Kalakaua Ave., Unit 103, in Waikīkī, which received its notice to proceed on Aug. 22, 2019.
  • Cure Oahu
    • 727 Kapahulu Ave. in Honolulu, which received its notice to proceed on March 16, 2018;
  • Noa Botanicals
    • 1308 Young St. in Honolulu, which received its notice to proceed on Oct. 9, 2017;
    • 46-028 Kawa St. in Kaneohe, which received its notice to proceed on Feb. 13, 2019.

Registered patients and caregivers, including registered out-of-state patients and their caregivers, may purchase up to 4 ounces of medical cannabis during a 15-consecutive day period and a maximum of 8 ounces over a 30-consecutive day period. Registered patients should use medical cannabis with caution and consult their health care provider on proper dosages. Although medical cannabis is legal, driving under the influence of cannabis is illegal. All use of medical cannabis must be on private property and may not be used in a car while on the road, at work, at the beach, on hiking trails or in any other public space. It is illegal to use or possess medical cannabis on any federally owned property such as military installations and national parks. Laws that do not allow smoking or vaping in certain areas apply to the use of medical cannabis.

Although cannabis can be used as medicine, it has the potential to be addictive. Medicine should be secured and kept out of reach from children at all times. If an individual ingests too much cannabis, call the Poison Help Line at 1 (800) 222-1222. Plants in a personal grow site should be secured, not visible to neighbors and not accessible to children. When transporting, medical cannabis must be in a sealed container and not visible to the public. Patients are not protected when traveling with medical cannabis interisland, between states, or in other countries.

More information on the Medical Cannabis Program is available at https://health.hawaii.gov/medicalcannabis/.

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