Marijuana Laws in Hawaii

Cannabis in Hawaii is called pakalolo and has a long history in the only U.S. state in Oceania. Back in the ‘70s, the state was renowned for cultivating legendary strains such as Maui Wowee and Puna Butter. Such was the thrive of pakalolo that in 1979 Rolling Stones labeled it Hawaii’s No.1 crop above sugar and pineapple.

The following passages will elaborate on the marijuana and CBD laws of Hawaii.

 

Recreational Marijuana

In February 2019, the Hawaii Senate Judiciary Committee voted unequivocally to approve Senate Bill 686, which will enable islanders 21 and older to cultivate, carry, and consume cannabis. Moreover, licenses will be issued to facilities to manufacture, evaluate and sell marijuana, which would be subjected to a 15% surcharge as well as a state excise tax. Once the legislation is approved by the Senate, the Department of Health will be overseeing the sales. The retail is expected to begin in early 2021.

However, as of now, possessing even a joint will imprison you for 30 days apart from a $1,000 fine.

 

Medical Marijuana

The Islands of Aloha was the first U.S. state to legislate medical cannabis in 2000. However, accessing the medicine was a challenge until the 2015 approval of a statewide dispensary program. The first dispensary was opened in 2017, which allowed patients to carry up to 4 oz. of usable marijuana and cultivate seven plants in their private residences. Two years later, there are 8 licensed dispensaries in Paradise.

Today, the Hawaii State Department of Health governs two unique yet related programs. The Medical Cannabis Dispensary Program (conceived through Act 241) and the Medical Cannabis Registry Program (created through Act 228) are established to ensure that the medicinal herbs are available for nearly 25,000 registered patients in Hawaii.

 

CBD Oil Laws in Hawaii

The enactment of Senate Bill 2175 in 2014 legalized hemp-extracted CBD oil by initiating a two-year pilot research program to research the medicinal usage of industrial hemp. After that, the inking of Act 228 in 2016 and a year later Act 199, by Gov. David Ige further optimized the Industrial Hemp Pilot Program.

Furthermore, the signing of Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 by President Trump has raised hopes of Hawaii benefitting from industrial hemp cultivation. It’s because about 77,000 acres on the mainland are dedicated to growing hemp, while the same in Hawaii is just an acre.

Conclusion

Earlier in 2019, the Hawaii Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 686 to enable the cultivation, possession, and consumption of cannabis. Once the legislation passes through the Senate, the state is expected to start retailing weed by 2021. However, as of now, adult-use marijuana is banned in Hawaii.

The Aloha State governs two programs, namely the Medical Cannabis Dispensary Program and the Medical Cannabis Registry Program to ensure medicinal sufficiency for its nearly 25,000 registered patients. Lastly, The enactment of SB 2175 in 2014 legalized hemp-extracted CBD oil by launching a two-year pilot research program to study the medicinal usage of industrial hemp.