Michael MillerIt’s summer, the kids are out of school and the family wants to get out of Dodge. While the rest of the world thinks California is the place to be, Californians seeking a change of scenery and slower pace flock to Hawaii for some tropical rest and relaxation. It’s time for Mai Tais, pina coladas, Luaus, fire dancers and ukuleles. Now add to this beloved list, Hawaiian island medical cannabis island, born and bred. Oh yeah, the homeland of the original and iconic Maui Waui is just a mere plane ride away and it’s finally legal to indulge.
Medical cannabis in Hawaii is an item that seeks to be as prized as much as Kona coffee and macadamia nuts. It is all locally grown and produced, as well as tested to be free of pesticides and other toxins and impurities. (For a full list of Hawaii’s 10 licensed medical cannabis dispensaries and their locations, visit https://marijuanahawaii.org/.) It is important to the health and happiness of any travelling family (and photographic memories) for parents to have that little something special to ensure that extra degree of patience and sanity with children and spouses on that 24/7 family holiday. An obvious reason why fellow spouse and parent Jim Belushi, calls his favorite home-grown Oregonian strain “the marriage counselor”.
With California being a primary source of tourism for the islands, and an estimated 13 percent of California’s over 40 million residents using cannabis, it is easy to assume that the Golden State would be number one when it comes to their residents receiving Hawaii medical cannabis cards for their trips. Red Flag Traveler Advisory: if you think you are ready to hit the island dispensary and bring your own level of “chill” to your holiday just because you have a California license, think again and read on!
(Michael Miller)
“More than half of California residents who have applied to access medical cannabis in Hawaii via the islands’ new visiting patient program, which began this past March, are being denied, mainly because they aren’t providing the proper documentation” says Pedro Haro, executive director of the Hawaii Educational Executive Director of the Hawaii Association for Licensed Therapeutic Healthcare (HEALTH), the state’s trade association for licensed dispensaries. “California is not even in the top three states when it comes to its citizens obtaining a valid Hawaii medical card for obtaining lawfully dispensed cannabis”, Mr. Haro continued.
HEALTH advocated for the state medical reciprocity program (the “OSP”) and has been supporting the initiative since its inception. According to the Hawaii State Department of Health, most denials are due to the fact that Californians are either unaware of Hawaii legal requirements or have failed to provide proper documentation. The process for HSDH approval takes less than 10 minutes and requires filling out a digital application for Hawaii’s 329-OSP Card. The first step is to log in to Hawaii’s Medical Cannabis Registry website. California residents are required to upload a valid California state issued Medical Marijuana Identification Card as the HSDH will only consider those applicants with an MMIC; doctor’s letters or certifications are not acceptable.
“We want to spread awareness to California qualified patients traveling in Hawaii so they can access the medical cannabis they need during their visits,” Haro concluded. “We at HEALTH want them to feel comfortable, healthy and able to fully enjoy their trip to our island paradise.”
In legislative news, with Hawaii’s recently ended session, a decriminalization measure was approved and sent to Gov. David Ige for his anticipated signature. House Bill 1383 sets forth terms for misdemeanor criminal record expungement for possession of three grams or less and decriminalizes the possession of the same amount. After the Governor’s expected signature, the law will take effect January 11, 2020.
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