Rules for medical pakalolo program are aired

Medical marijuana patients will not be allowed to sample their medicines before they buy when dispensaries open next year.

The state Health Department issued interim administrative rules Tuesday for the medical marijuana dispensary licensing program that require cannabis operators to grow their plants indoors and at least 750 feet away from schools and playgrounds. It also doesn’t allow retail operators to hand out free samples or sell paraphernalia. The dispensaries will be highly regulated with unlimited unannounced inspections, the department said.

“I’m excited by the guidance provided by the DOH rules. It’s extremely helpful for all of those involved in the effort to produce pharmaceutical-grade cannabis. This is definitely a beacon to follow in moving forward,” said former Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle, an attorney for the Wellness Group, composed of 18 mostly local doctors, nurses and other health care providers. “If you’re not following the rules, it’s going to be a hurdle for you, but if you follow the rules, you’re going to have something that’s safe and patient oriented.”

The regulations can be found online at health.hawaii.gov/medicalmarijuana under “Dispensary Updates” and will remain in effect until July 1, 2018, or longer if they are extended by the state.

“The interim rules were written first and foremost to effectively implement the medical marijuana dispensary law and get the dispensary system up and running,” state Health Director Virginia Pressler said in a news release. “The rules have also been drafted to ensure patient safety, product safety and public safety, and prevent marketing to our keiki. This product is intended to be used for registered patients who need it for medical purposes and the rules are written specifically to accomplish that goal.”

Among other requirements, the interim rules explain:

>> Criteria and processes for awarding dispensary licenses.

>> Security requirements.

>> Standards for certifying laboratories that will be responsible for ensuring the safety of the marijuana or manufactured marijuana products distributed at the retail dispensing locations.

>> Requirements for operating the dispensaries, including tracking each dispensary’s inventory of products from seed to sale or disposal.

In July, Gov. David Ige signed Act 241, which allows for dispensaries to begin selling medical marijuana to qualified patients or primary caregivers beginning July 15, 2016. Under the law a total of eight dispensary licenses may be issued: three on Oahu, two each on Hawaii island and Maui, and one on Kauai.

Each dispensary licensee will be allowed to operate up to two production centers with up to 3,000 marijuana plants each and two retail stations for a total of 16 centers and 16 dispensaries statewide.

The initial open application period for licensing will begin Jan. 12 and close Jan. 29.

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Medical marijuana dispensary rules:

>> 750 feet away from schools or playgrounds.

>> Grown indoors.

>> No free samples.

>> No paraphernalia sales.

>> Unlimited unannounced inspections.

Source: State Health Department