Hawaii authorizes the sale of edibles in medical cannabis dispensaries

Patients enrolled in the State of Hawaii’s medical cannabis program, which has been legal since 2000, will now be able to purchase food products infused with Cannabis, the edibles, at approved clinics, under a new law enacted by Democratic Governor David Ige.

The House Bill 2097 will allow licensed dispensaries «to manufacture and distribute cannabis edibles.» The state Department of Health will oversee the rules governing the production, labeling, and packaging of cannabis edibles.

The new law also allows dispensaries, for the first time, to «provide, distribute, and publish educational and scientific materials on medical cannabis and its approved products, and to sponsor events related to medical cannabis.».

Governor Ige signed the bill into law earlier this month. The new law will take effect on January 1, 2021.

At the same time, the State of Hawaii approved two more cannabis dispensaries, the 14th and 15th to be authorized on the islands. As of August 31, there were a total of 29,475 patients enrolled in the medical cannabis program and 2,445 registered caregivers statewide.

Severe pain is the main condition reported among registered adult patients. For those under 18, the main conditions for use appear to be seizures and post-traumatic stress disorder.