Products photo courtesy Hawaiian Ethos LLC

(BIVN) – The grand opening of Kona’s first medical cannabis dispensary, and the first by the Hawaiian Ethos LLC company, is set for this weekend.

The grand opening celebration and medical cannabis sales will begin at 11 am on Sunday, June 30th, at the dispensary located at 73-5613 Olowalu St. Suite 7 in the Kaloko Industrial area.

Although access to the dispensary will be limited to patients and caregivers with 329 Cards, there will be music, food, and activities that will be open to the public in the Aloha Plaza parking lot in front of the dispensary.

“We are really looking forward to serving our community. It’s taken longer than we had hoped to get to this point, and we’ve used the extra time to learn about local patients’ needs and have integrated what they want into what we do,” said Diana Hahn, Hawaiian Ethos Communications Director.

Hawaiian Ethos’ QDT’s – Quick Dissolving Tablets, “with a true controlled dose”, photo courtesy Hawaiian Ethos LLC

“Our medicine is sungrown and sustainably packaged with minimal plastic,” Hahn said. “Along with traditional products, we are offering unique non-inhalable, controlled dose, and microdose options. Additionally, Hawaiian Ethos has created a personalized medicine app called Talk Medicine™ that helps patients figure out what works for them, while also providing us with feedback so we can keep advancing cannabis medicine. Our goal is to partner with patients to create a medical cannabis program that really works for them. The first step towards that end is treating people with respect, and really listening to what they have to share.”

This morning, the Hawai‘i State Department of Health issued a formal notice to proceed to Hawaiian Ethos after the Hawai‘i Island dispensary completed laboratory testing requirements and passed the final onsite inspection of its retail facility.

Hawaiian Ethos is the eighth and final licensed medical cannabis dispensary in the state to receive approval to begin sales of medical cannabis to registered patients and their caregivers. On Hawaiʻi Island, the Big Island Grown medical cannabis dispensary has already opened a facility in Hilo and in Waimea.

According to the health department:

As of May 31, 2019 there were approximately 7,572 registered patients and 433 caregivers on Hawai‘i Island of the total 26,125 patients and 1,986 caregivers registered statewide. The primary reported condition for adult registered patients is severe pain. The primary reported conditions for children under 18 years of age are seizures and severe pain. Hawai‘i Revised Statutes Chapter 329D and Hawai‘i Administrative Rules Chapter 11-850 govern the rigorous dispensary approval process to open and begin selling medical cannabis. To ensure the highest standards of quality and care, dispensaries are required to comply with all state and county health and safety regulations. Dispensaries are subject to unannounced inspections by DOH.

“A medical cannabis dispensary in Kailua-Kona will provide safe access to registered patients in West Hawai‘i who have been patiently awaiting this option for their medical needs,” said Michele Nakata, medical cannabis program supervisor. “The DOH medical cannabis dispensary program continues to work closely and collaboratively with the state’s licensees to ensure patient safety, product safety, and public safety.”

Interior view of the new dispensary in Kona, photo courtesy Hawaiian Ethos, LLC.

Hawaiian Ethos dispensary hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, closed on Monday. Appointments for private consultations are available, but not required, the company says.

For more information about appointments, events, business hours, and location, please visit hawaiianethos.com or call 808-339-3205.