Hawaii pot dispensaries can legally open, but none are ready
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Today was the first day that medical marijuana dispensaries would have been legally allowed to open for business in Hawaii, but none of the state’s eight dispensaries has been approved to open.
Medical marijuana dispensaries can now legally open in Hawaii, but not one is ready to do so.
The state Department of Health says none of the state’s eight dispensaries has been approved to open.
One big hurdle is the state hasn’t certified a lab to test the dispensaries’ products.
Department of Health spokeswoman Janice Okubo says the state hasn’t received any applications from interested laboratories.
Medical marijuana was legalized in Hawaii more than 15 years ago. But the state only legalized dispensaries last year.
There’s a long list of steps before dispensaries can open. They have to set up an indoor crop growing facility, get building permits and get a certificate from narcotics enforcement.
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Some dispensary and lab executives say they hope to open by the end of 2016.
3 responses to “Hawaii pot dispensaries can legally open, but none are ready”
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Everyone is still cautious. It is still a Federally banned drug. Nobody wants to put money into a venture so full of uncertainty. Don’t want to get arrested and jailed.
Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug. Are there federally insured banks or savings institutions in this state that will receive, transact revenue derived from illegal drugs?
I recognize your question. Colorado sellers could not deposit their sales receipts into any bank. They have to build warehouses or their own vaults guarded by bodyguards. Rude shock. Feds are playing dirty like a Mafia. Disappointing behavior.