Pakalolo dispensary finds insurer

At least one of Hawaii’s seven medical marijuana dispensaries losing workers’ compensation coverage at the end of the month through the Hawaii Employers’ Mutual Insurance Co., known as HEMIC, has secured a policy through another carrier.

Green Aloha Ltd. on Kauai found a new provider — AIG — “within 24 hours” of being notified earlier this month that coverage would be canceled by HEMIC, said CEO Justin Britt.

HEMIC, the state’s largest workers’ compensation insurer, notified seven dispensaries that its policies will be canceled and that premiums would be refunded after determining that the insurer would be open to “potential exposure for criminal liability” based on federal law.

“It wasn’t a big deal for any of the other licensees,” Britt said. “It’s not stopping anyone in any way, shape or form. I understand HEMIC’s position, and we hope to use them in the future so that we can keep the money within Hawaii.”

Though Hawaii legalized medical marijuana in 2000, the federal government considers cannabis an illegal drug with no “currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”