Hawaii Dispensaries Get The Green Light To Grow Marijuana

Hawaii has announced it will allow medical marijuana dispensaries to begin growing pot as early as Feb. 1, which comes after several months of delays.

One of the holdups has been the state not having a federally required software system to track the product from seed to sale. But the Hawaii Department of Health said Wednesday its finally ready to go online with its tracking system.

The state Legislature legalized medical marijuana dispensaries in 2015 and awarded eight licenses for the businesses statewide last year. The dispensaries were initially expected to begin sales in July.

Health officials said four licensees - Manoa Botanicals and Aloha Green on Oahu and Mauis Pono Life Sciences and Maui Grown Therapies - have indicated they are ready to begin growing. It can take between three and five months for plants to mature.

Brian Goldstein, founder and CEO of Manoa Botanicals, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser his company expects to begin cultivation next week but is still unsure when it will open for business.

It is exciting, but theres some critical milestones ahead of us, he said. Were not going to be able to sell until a lab is certified, and there is uncertainty as to when thats going to happen.

Teri Gorman of Maui Grown Therapies said her dispensarys production facility needs one more inspection from the state before ...