Cannabis Cardholders Increase, But They Aren’t Flocking To Dispensaries
A by-the-numbers look at the medical marijuana landscape now that dispensaries have opened on Oahu and Maui.
Every month, the number of patients cleared to use medical marijuana increases by about 3 percent in Hawaii.
Since dispensary sales kicked off in August, more than 1,000 new patients have registered. Some of them may just be anticipating buying medical marijuana legally, because dispensaries are only open on Oahu and Maui so far.
One dispensary each on Oahu and Maui began selling cannabis in August. Late September, the state Department of Health approved a second dispensary to open on Maui. In October, another Oahu dispensary opened for business.
Two labs are currently certified to test cannabis products.
The dispensaries’ production centers have the capacity to grow 48,000 plants, according to the health department, but had only produced 16,166 plants, as of late October.
On Wednesday afternoon, a legislative working group created to improve the state’s dispensary program will vote on a number of recommendations for consideration at the next legislative session that begins in January.
Meanwhile, here’s a statistical look at the changing state of medical cannabis in Hawaii, based on the most recent data available from the health department:
