Hawaii Lawmakers Advance Medical Marijuana Program Changes
Hawaii is poised to make significant changes to its medical marijuana program, following a tentative vote by lawmakers on Friday. The proposed changes aim to address several issues, including the proliferation of illegal CBD stores and the financial struggles of licensed dispensaries.
House Bill 302, which was passed by lawmakers, aims to crack down on unlicensed CBD stores that are selling cannabis products illegally. The bill also expands the list of health concerns that doctors can authorize medical marijuana for, making it easier for patients to access the treatment.
Additionally, the bill seeks to simplify the process for licensed dispensaries to operate and obtain products from licensed wholesalers. This is expected to improve the financial stability of the dispensaries, which have been struggling due to a lack of authorized patients and an oversupply of cannabis.
State Representative Gregg Takayama, the chair of the House health committee, believes that the passage of the bill will have a positive impact on the medical marijuana program. “This measure will put our medical dispensaries on a better financial footing,” he said. “They’ve been complaining to us about the lack of authorized patients and the oversupply of cannabis, and this bill addresses those issues.”
The bill still requires approval from finance leaders before it can become law. However, if passed, it is expected to bring significant changes to Hawaii’s medical marijuana program.
