Pubdate: Thu, 28 May 2015
Source: Honolulu Star-Advertiser (HI)
Copyright: 2015 Star Advertiser
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

SEMINAR TO FOCUS ON MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES IN HAWAII

A Florida-based consulting company will host a medical marijuana 
seminar at a Waikiki hotel next month to explain the business 
opportunities linked to the potential legalization of pot 
dispensaries in Hawaii.

Fifteen years after medical marijuana was legalized in Hawaii, the 
Legislature passed a bill this month approving a system of medical 
marijuana dispensaries statewide by next summer. Gov. David Ige is 
expected to sign House Bill 321 into law, and dispensaries are 
projected to open as early as July 2016.

Under the bill, eight dispensary licenses will be awarded to Hawaii 
residents, with up to two dispensaries allowed under each license - 
six on Oahu, four on Maui, four on Hawaii island and two on Kauai.

US Cannabis Pharmaceutical Research and Development LLC will conduct 
a seminar called "Hawaii medical marijuana dispensary system: What 
you need to know" on June 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Waikiki 
Beach Marriott Resort and Spa. The cost is $300 before June 6 and $350 after.

Michael Patterson, the company's chief executive officer, will speak 
at the seminar along with Michael Visher, the company's president and 
co-founder of Green Man Cannabis, a multimillion-dollar marijuana 
dispensary firm with two locations in Denver.

Pot dispensaries could lead to the creation of jobs for attorneys, 
accountants, business professionals, nurses, therapists, pharmacy 
technicians, health care executives, physicians and marijuana 
growers, according to the company.

Hawaii has approximately 13,000 medical marijuana patients with 
identification cards, according to the state Department of Health. 
For the first time, Hawaii patients will have legal access to medical 
marijuana that has been grown and prepared under strict safety controls.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom