Hawaii allows first lab to begin testing medical marijuana

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

“This is a big milestone, and it couldn’t have come any sooner, because many people within the industry were getting frustrated and a little angry at the time it has taken to get to this point,” said state Sen. Will Espero, a Democrat. “But now that we are here, hopefully the next phase in terms of sales will happen quickly and everything will go smoothly.”

Pursue new contract with province

City council decides to use additional tax dollars to maintain integrated fire and ambulance service

11h ago

Located on 40 Avenue

Bower Woods rezoning goes ahead at Red Deer city council meeting

14h ago

april 30 to may 2

Measles exposure suspected at The Hamlets in Gasoline Alley

15h ago

Once the lab receives samples, it will take about four days to test and return products to dispensaries for sale, said Dana Ciccone, owner of Steep Hill Hawaii.

Then the dispensary will undergo one final inspection by the Department of Health with the product present, department spokeswoman Janice Okubo said. That on-site inspection and accompanying paperwork could take 24 to 48 hours, she said.

Steep Hill worked tirelessly over the past year to receive certification so patients could finally access safe, legal cannabis, Ciccone said in an email. “Today is a big step in the right direction for Hawaii’s Medical Cannabis industry,” he said.

The product at Honolulu-based dispensary Aloha Green has been ready for months, and dispensary CEO James H.Q. Lee said he hopes to begin the lab testing process Tuesday.

“We’ve been waiting, so that’s very good news. I think the patients will be happy,” Lee said.

But Lee still has questions about what size sample to prepare, and he hasn’t gotten a definitive answer from the Department of Health, he said.

Maui Grown Therapies also is ready to begin testing its product, said Teri Freitas Gorman, director of community relations and patient affairs at the dispensary.

“We’ve been waiting for this day for quite some time, and now that it’s here it’s very exciting news for us,” she said. “Being on a neighbour island, there’s a little bit of a logistical hurdle that we have to overcome, but we’ll overcome it.”

Cathy Bussewitz, The Associated Press