Two Hawaii Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Have Opened

Two Hawaii dispensaries are now open. The Department of Health expects a surge in patient registration now that dispensaries are in operation. The state currently has just over 18,000 patients.

Roughly 38-percent of Hawaii’s patients reside on the Big Island, according to Hawaii News Now. Another 29-percent live on Oahu.

Scottina Ruis, coordinator of Hawaii’s medical marijuana program, said, “With other states that have similar size programs, we’ve see up to a 50-percent increase in the first year. We’ve had for our program, from inception to date, about a steady 20-percent per year, so we’re expecting at least 20-percent, up to 50-percent. We do see the beginning of a possible trend that shows more growth happening on Oahu.”

There are four full-time employees processing patient applications. The state plans to hire three additional people by the end of 2017.

Ruis also said, “We’ve only got so many live bodies and we’re doing our best to keep up with the demand and hopefully, we can stay ahead of that.”