Pubdate: Sat, 03 Jan 2015
Source: Honolulu Star-Advertiser (HI)
Copyright: 2015 Associated Press
Contact: 
http://www.staradvertiser.com/info/Star-Advertiser_Letter_to_the_Editor.html
Website: http://www.staradvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5154

PANEL TO ADVISE 2017 START FOR POT DISPENSARY LICENSES

KAILUA-KONA (AP) - Hawaii's Medical Marijuana Dispensary Task Force 
will recommend that licenses for marijuana production centers and 
dispensaries be offered in 2017, according to the state 
representative overseeing the group.

Rep. Della Au Belatti (D, Moiliili-Makiki-Tantalus) said the task 
force finished its work this week. She is working on a bill for the 
House to consider when the Legislature convenes Jan. 21, West Hawaii 
Today reported Thursday.

"The recommendations are really just a starting point," she said. 
"Some of the recommendations will be taken up, and some of them won't."

The group recommended that the Department of Health determine the 
number of dispensary licenses based on a guideline ratio of 1 for 
every 500 patients, with at least one dispensary in each county.

It recommended that an application for a dispensary license cost 
$20,000, with $18,000 refunded if the application is unsuccessful. 
Annual license renewal would cost $30,000, the task force recommended.

THE GROUP also recommended the Department of Health begin offering 
dispensary and producers licenses Jan. 1, 2017. Dispensaries could 
begin operations July 1, 2017.

The task force recommended that medical marijuana production center 
licenses be issued based on a ratio that allows up to 1,000 plants at 
any one time, and that at least 30 producer licenses be offered Jan. 1, 2017.

The group recommended that producers and dispensaries be permitted to 
transport medical marijuana within Hawaii in accordance with Health 
Department security requirements.

Former Gov. Ben Cayetano signed Hawaii's medical marijuana law in 
2000. Marijuana can be prescribed for cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, 
cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures, 
persistent muscle spasms and other medical conditions approved by the 
state Department of Health.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom