2 weeks nothing versus 15 years

It seems more than a little disingenious for some to be heaping blame on the state Department of Health (DOH) over the medical-marijuana licensure deadline, now moved back two weeks, from Friday to April 29.

After all, it took the state Legislature some 15 years after OK’ing medical marijuana use before it finally approved a pot-dispensaries law last year. Huge potential for money-making could be at stake, not to mention keiki and public safety.

The DOH did misstep when it initially tried to keep the licensee selection panel secret, but delaying an arbitrary final deadline by two weeks isn’t as egregious as some imply.

The really tiny American dream

It’s an interesting experiment in affordable housing on Oahu: a high-rise on Cooke Street in Kakaako that will contain 104 tiny “micro-unit” apartments — each with 300 square feet of living space, plus a 40-square-foot lanai. After a delay, it’s slated to open in 2019.

At about $750 a month for most units, it could help ease Honolulu’s sky-high rental prices. In other expensive cities, there have been complaints: They create overcrowded neighborhoods, they’re too small for more than one person, they can be unhealthy for older people.

There’s also a public cost: The developer, Bronx Pro Group LLC, will apply for tax-exempt bonds, tax credits and state and city financing.

Success seems to lie in well-designed units with high-quality construction materials and good management.