Hawaii Medical Marijuana: 17 Years After Legalization, First Lab To Begin Testing

HONOLULU, HI — Hawaii was among the first states to legalize medical marijuana in 2000, but it didn't legalize dispensaries for another 15 years. Medical pot dispensaries began opening in the state this summer, but they couldn't sell their products because the state hadn't certified any labs to conduct the required testing.

On Monday, state health officials changed that, approving Honolulu-based lab Steep Hill Hawaii. The lab is the first to begin testing samples of medical marijuana and brings Hawaii one step closer to the long-awaited date when dispensaries can sell their products.

"This is a big milestone, and it couldn't have come any sooner, because many people within the industry were getting frustrated and a little angry at the time it has taken to get to this point," said state Sen. Will Espero, a Democrat. "But now that we are here, hopefully the next phase in terms of sales will happen quickly and everything will go smoothly."

Goods news for Hawaii's medical cannabis program. The 1st testing lab has been certified. Hopefully sales begin shortly.
— Will Espero (@WillEspero) July 31, 2017

Once the lab receives samples, it will take about four days to test and return products to dispensaries for sale, said Dana Ciccone, owner of Steep Hill Hawaii. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Then the dispensary will undergo one final inspection by the Department of Health with the product present, department spokeswoman Janice Okubo said. That on-site inspection and accompanying paperwork could take 24 to 48 hours, she said.

Steep Hill worked tirelessly over the past year to receive certification so patients could finally access safe, legal cannabis, Ciccone said in an email. "Today is a big step in the right direction for Hawaii's Medical Cannabis industry," he said.

#Mahalo <3https://t.co/7bVPo43Kpo#mmj #cannabis #marijuana #hawaii #medicine #science #steephilllab #cannabiscommunity #cannabiz pic.twitter.com/4uEG5hBQci
— SteepHillHawaii (@SteepHillHawaii) August 1, 2017

The product at Honolulu-based dispensary Aloha Green has been ready for months, and dispensary CEO James H.Q. Lee said he hopes to begin the lab testing process Tuesday.

"We've been waiting, so that's very good news. I think the patients will be happy," Lee said.

But Lee still has questions about what size sample to prepare, and he hasn't gotten a definitive answer from the Department of Health, he said.

Maui Grown Therapies also is ready to begin testing its product, said Teri Freitas Gorman, director of community relations and patient affairs at the dispensary.

"We've been waiting for this day for quite some time, and now that it's here it's very exciting news for us," she said. "Being on a neighbor island, there's a little bit of a logistical hurdle that we have to overcome, but we'll overcome it."

By CATHY BUSSEWITZ, Associated Press

Photo credit: Marina Riker/Associated Press