News/Updates
Out-of-state patients now able to get legal medical marijuana in Hawaii.
All in-state and out-of-state patients registered in Hawaii will be receiving electronic access to their 329 cards. Hard copy cards will no longer be printed by registry staff and U.S. postal mailed to patient-initiated applicants.
Click Here for information about the In-State Patient Application Process
Click Here for information about the Out-of-State Patient Process
Marijuana might reverse heart failure, University of Hawaii study finds.
University of Hawaii researchers have discovered that the use of marijuana may reverse heart failure.
A recent study shows that drugs can protect and reverse damage to the heart from the stress that progresses the disease. Heart failure can be caused by heart attacks, leaky valves, hypertension and other illnesses.
Alexander Stokes, assistant professor in cell and molecular biology at the UH John A. Burns School of Medicine, said the potential medical benefits of cannabis to treat heart disease are promising.
Stokes, the founder of Makai Biotechnology, a Hawaii-based cardiovascular therapy company, is working to bring new drugs to market with GB Sciences Inc., a pharmaceutical company that operates dispensaries in Nevada.
“Heart disease and diabetes are very prevalent in the islands and there’s greater prevalence in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations,” he said. “It’s important to discover new therapies that impact this terrible disease.”
Petition to Add New Conditions in 2019
Click here to access the 2019 form for qualified patients, doctors, and advance practice registered nurses to petition for additional health conditions for the DOH to consider adding to the existing list of conditions that benefit from medical cannabis.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties viewing/downloading the form, please email us at: medicalcannabis@doh.hawaii.gov , please title your email as “PETITION FORM” and we will email it to you.
Petitions submitted by the deadline of February 20, 2019 will be included in the 2019 public hearing. Petitions submitted after the deadline may be considered the following year. Decisions on petitions received during this petition period are expected before the end of the year.
Act 116 SLH 2018 – Makes several changes to the current law (Effective July 5, 2018):
Extends the validity of the certification with the concurrence of the patient and patient’s physician/APRN.
Safe Pulmonary Administration (SPA) products have been added to the list of approved “merch” licensed medical cannabis retail dispensaries may sell to qualifying patients.
Patients who are registered for medical cannabis use in other states may be able to benefit from our program while visiting the islands.
One or both parents/guardians are now allowed to register as caregivers for one or more qualifying minor patients.
The bona fide provider-patient relationship may continue via telehealth after the relationship has been established by a face-to-face consultation.
Although the changes above are effective July 5, 2018, significant changes to our online system are in various stages of development and we hope to start rolling out the enhancements starting January 2019. Thank you for your patience.
Program Statistics
The Department of Health (DOH) issues roughly 1,500 -329 Cards each month. Registration into the program happens daily as new or renewal applications are processed and 329 Cards are issued. Thus, the number of valid program participants changes daily. On January 1, 2015, when DOH began administration of the program, there were 11,4021 (unduplicated) registered patients/program participants with expiration dates during 2015.
The following month-end data reflects the number of registered patients/program participants on the dates provided:
February 29, 2020 – 27,710 valid Hawaii in-state patients – February 2020 Data Report
January 31, 2020 – 27,393 valid Hawaii in-state patients – January 2020 Data Report
December 31, 2019 – 27,152 valid Hawaii in-state patients – December 2019 Report
November 30, 2019 -26,462 valid Hawaii in-state patients – November 2019 Report
October 31, 2019 -26,448 valid Hawaii in-state patients – October 2019 Data Report
September 30, 2019 -26,716 valid Hawaii in-state patients – September 2019 Report
August 31, 2019 -26,807 valid Hawaii in-state patients – Click August 2019 Data Report
July 31, 2019 -26,763 valid Hawaii in-state patients – Click July 2019 Data Report
June 30, 2019 – 26,391 valid Hawaii in-state patients – Click June 2019 Data Report
May 31, 2019 – 26,125 valid Hawaii in-state patients – Click May 2019 Data Report
April 30, 2019 – 25,558 valid Hawaii in-state patients – Click April 2019 Data Report
March 31, 2019 – 25,132 valid Hawaii in-state patients – Click March 2019 Data Report
February 28, 2019 -24,521 valid patients – Click February 2019 Data Report
January 31, 2019 -24,070 valid patients – Click January 2019 Data Report
December 31, 2018 -23,746 valid patients – Click December 2018 Data Report
November 30, 2018 -23,479 valid patients – Click November 2018 Data Report
October 31, 2018 – 23,468 valid patients – Click October 2018 Data Report
September 30, 2018 – 22,809 valid patients – Click September 2018 Interim Program Data
August 31, 2018 – 22,078 valid patients
July 31, 2018 – 21,705 valid patients
June 30, 2018 – 21,358 valid patients. Click June 2018 Interim Program Data
May 31, 2018 – 21,596 valid patients
April 30, 2018 -21,004 valid patients
March 31, 2018 – 20,867 valid patients. Click March 2018 Interim Program Data
February 28, 2018 – 20,518 valid patients
January 31, 2018 – 20,279 valid patients