Pubdate: Sun, 03 Jul 2016
Source: Garden Island (Lihue, HI)
Copyright: 2016 The Garden Island
Contact:  http://thegardenisland.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/964
Author: Alden Alayvilla

MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES DELAYED

DOH Says Inspections Still To Be Completed

LIHUE - The more than 1,600 registered medical marijuana patients on 
Kauai may not be getting their medicine at a licensed dispensary in July.

Department of Health officials said facility inspections of the state 
eight licensees have yet to take place. That means dispensaries won't 
be ready to open a retail establishment by July 15, the earliest date 
legislators allowed them to start selling medicine to registered patients.

"The Department of Health is unable to predict the progress by each 
licensee because there are a number of requirements that are outside 
of our department's control," said Janice Okubo, DOH spokeswoman.

Shane Peters, spokesman for Green Aloha Ltd., the sole dispensary on 
Kauai, declined to comment, but said he would be able to share 
information on its status in July.

"Green Aloha Ltd. is doing their best to open in a manner that allows 
their operation to exceed expectation," said Christopher Garth, 
executive director of the Hawaii Dispensary Alliance, a medical 
marijuana advocacy group.

Although he's unaware of the operational status of each dispensary, 
Garth speculates that at least one dispensary will begin selling as 
early as October.

"Hopefully we can have someone opening their doors that have a robust 
menu and quality tested products by the end of year," he said.

Hawaii legalized medical marijuana 16 years ago, and there are over 
14,000 registered medical marijuana cardholders in the state.

Next steps for medical marijuana dispensary licenses by the DOH 
including establishing enclosed indoor facilities; installing 24hour 
security measures; obtaining a certificate to possess and handle 
marijuana and manufactured marijuana products; hire employees; and 
install a computer software system that will track the product from 
seed to sale, and disposal or destruction.

As for the production center, there must be fencing that surrounds 
the premises and it must be sufficient to reasonably deter intruders 
and prevent anyone outside the premises from viewing any marijuana in any form.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom