Waimea Community Association
on January 2018

Medical cannabis has been legal in Hawai’i since 2000, but access to medical cannabis was challenging. Initially the Hawai’i law enabled patients and caregivers to legally grow their own plants within certain parameters. Then in 2015, the State Legislature passed, and the Governor signed into law Act 241, which became codified as Chapter 329D of the Hawai’i Revised Statutes, to establish a dispensary licensure program to make medicinal marijuana products readily available for registered patients while balancing the health and safety of patients and the public.

Today in Hawai‘i, eight licensees have received permission to operate dispensaries for licensed medical cannabis patients. Two such licensees have been authorized for Hawai’i Island – including one group that will source its flower from Waimea. One of the companies, known as Hawaiian Ethos, has plans to open their first dispensary in Kona in Spring and a second dispensary in Hilo later this year. Both dispensary locations will offer the full range of products that are allowed by Hawaii State regulations including flower, tinctures, tablets and capsules in a variety of dosages.

The Hawaiian Ethos team is led by Interim CEO Luis Mejia and COO Zachary Taffany.

Representatives of Hawaiian Ethos have been invited to the 5:15 p.m., Thurs., Feb. 1, 2018 Waimea Community Association Town Meeting to provide an overview of their plans to cultivate and dispense medical cannabis to Hawaii Island patients.

The Hawai’i State Department of Health’s Office of Health Care Assurance has regulatory responsibility for Hawaii’s dispensary licensure program to ensure patient safety, public safety, and product safety, and to ensure licensee compliance with state law. This includes statewide oversight of the laboratories that test the safety and quality of the cannabis and manufactured cannabis products, and onsite inspections and monitoring of licensed dispensaries that grow, manufacture, and sell medical cannabis products to qualifying patients.

All that being said – this new “ag” business in Waimea has drawn widespread community interest – hence the town meeting presentation.

As always, there is no charge to attend though membership in the association is urged and dues for 2018 are due. Annual WCA membership is $15 for individuals and $25 for families, and because the organization is a not-for-profit, dues are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

As with all WCA Town Meetings, the program will begin with Hawai’i County Council
members providing an update on Council business, and Community Policing Officer Kelena Ho’okano reporting on recent incidents and community safety concerns.

The spotlighted community non-profit for the evening will be North Hawai’i Community Hospital’s much needed Emergency Room expansion project which seeks to raise about $1 million from the local community – to be matched with $24 million from other public and private sources, including $1.5 million from the 2018 State Legislature. As has become a monthly custom at town meetings, attendees will be encouraged to makea tax deductible donation to this not-for-profit organization.

Starbucks will provide steaming hot coffee and the association board will provide cookies.