Hawaii Medical Marijuana Program – 329 Rules

Related

• How to Get Your Hawaii 329 Card
• Qualifying Conditions in Hawaii

Registering for the Hawaii Cannabis Program

To get medical marijuana in Hawaii, you first need to apply for a Hawaii 329 card. Before you can begin your application, you must get a marijuana certification from a Hawaii cannabis doctor. Getting a marijuana certification in Hawaii is easy. You can schedule an appointment with one of our Hawaii medical marijuana doctors near you by filling out our sign-up form.

Hawaii 329 card rules require in-person appointments for first-time patients. So, during your set appointment time, you will have to meet with one of our Hawaii marijuana doctors at their office. The marijuana evaluation is brief and usually takes 10 to 15 minutes. Afterward, our cannabis doctor will certify you for medical marijuana if you meet all the requirements.

Most importantly, Hawaii marijuana doctors can only recommend medicinal cannabis to patients diagnosed with a medical condition specified by the Hawaii Medical Cannabis Program. Usually, the doctor will consider cannabis treatment if you are suffering from either:

• A chronic illness whose prescription medication could lead to physical or psychological dependence.
• Or a chronic medical condition that causes severe, debilitating psychiatric disorders.

Go here to take a look at the qualifying conditions for a medical card in Hawaii.

329 Card Application Requirements

After getting your marijuana certification, you can go ahead and submit your application for the Hawaii 329 card through the Medical Cannabis Registry. But before you begin, you should confirm that you meet the following Hawaii medical marijuana requirements: 

• Must be diagnosed with one or more of the qualifying conditions for a medical card in Hawaii.
• Get certified by a licensed physician or Advanced Practiced Registered Nurse (APRN) in Hawaii.
• Have a valid Hawaii ID, Driver’s License, or Passport Book

Also, visiting patients with valid out-of-state medical marijuana cards may qualify for a temporary Hawaii 329 card (329V card). To be eligible, visiting patients must fulfill the following requirements:

• Must be certified in their home state as having one or more debilitating medical conditions recognized in Hawaii.
• Have a valid state-issued medical marijuana card.
• Have a valid state ID or Driver’s License from their home state.

329 Card Rules for Medical Cannabis Patients in Hawaii

With a valid 329 card, patients can lawfully consume, buy, and possess medical cannabis in Hawaii. Still, there are limits to these freedoms and patients should follow the Hawaii 329 card rules to be on the safe side of the law. For instance: 

• Your patient status allows you to buy a 4-ounce supply of marijuana per week. There is no legal reason for you to possess any marijuana beyond your explicitly set limit.
• The only authorized locations for marijuana-related purchases are state-approved dispensaries. The court of law highly prohibits personal sales and you should NOT engage with them in any way, shape, or form.
• Growing marijuana in Hawaii is allowed for patients who are registered with the MMP. However, the cultivation quantity should NOT exceed 10 plants at any stage of maturity. Moreover, for the cultivation to be legal, they must state their intent to grow cannabis on their initial application. Following the approval of their application, they will be allowed to cultivate marijuana on their private property, where no children are present. 
• If your treatment includes hashish-based products OR any other type of marijuana concentrate, know that regulations for unlawful use and possession still apply. The state of HI treats hash and concentrates just as it treats marijuana – as a Schedule I drug. 
• Marijuana paraphernalia (such as bongs, tobacco blunts, and rolling paper) is NOT necessary for any type of marijuana treatment. You have no legal excuse for possessing such an item, or, similar to cultivation, to use it to create your medication.

When did the Hawaii Medical Cannabis Program Start?

In June 2000, Hawaii signed Senate Bill 862, entering into effect in December of that same year and removing any state-level criminal penalties for marijuana use, possession, and cultivation for medical purposes, forming the basis of the Hawaii marijuana laws. Patients holding a signed recommendation from their physician could now gain access to cannabis-based medication.

More than a decade later, in June 2013, House Bill 668 was amended. As a result, a registry fund came into existence to pay for the formation of a proper medical marijuana program. More than that, it transferred the ownership of the program from the state’s Department of Public Safety to the Hawaii Department of Health, to be taken into effect by January 1st, 2015.

Senate Bill 642 was amended the following day, on January 2nd, establishing an “adequate supply” of medical cannabis to a seven plant total, regardless of their maturity.

Finally, in July 2015, another amendment came through Act 241, which created a statewide dispensary system for the ease of acquisition of medical marijuana products for med-card-owning patients. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was also added to the official list of qualifying medical conditions, with the most recent inclusion being Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), in December 2017.