How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Hawaii
Schedule an Appointment with A Certifying Medical Provider
The good news is that MMJCardOnline can help connect you with a certifying medical provider in Hawaii. From there, you must establish a bona fide patient relationship with the certifying medical provider and attend your appointment in person.
Create your Hawaii State Government Account
Next, register as a patient with Hawaii’s Medical Cannabis Registry Program by creating your free account by visiting the official state website. You need an email address to register.
Fill Out the Online Application
Next, fill out the online application by logging in and using the online application portal at the official website (same website address as above).
You will need to upload photos of these documents as part of the online application:
- a valid state ID, Hawaiian driver’s license, or passport
- Your patient certification form
Pay the Application Fee
Currently, the fees for a new patient are:
- $38.50 to register for one year (in-state applicant)
- $77 to register for two years (if eligible)
- $49.50 for an out-of-state application (valid for 60 days)
Send Your Online Application to Your Medical Provider
Next, send your application to your medical provider, and they will certify you and submit your application to the Hawaii Department of Health for review.
Download Your Hawaii Medical Marijuana Card
After receiving an approval notification via email, you can access your Hawaii 329 medical cannabis card by logging into your account and downloading your electronic card.
How to Apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in Hawaii
- A Step-by-Step Guide
- Check your eligibility
- Schedule and attend an appointment with a medical provider
- Create your government account
- Fill out the online application
- Pay the application fee
- Send your application to your medical provider. They then submit your application to the Hawaii Department of Health for review
- If approved, download your Hawaii medical marijuana card (329 card)
Hawaii Medical Marijuana Card Qualifying Conditions
Bring any medical documentation with you to a pre-screening with the medical provider. Notes from previous doctor visits, trips to the chiropractor, ER visits, prescriptions, MRIs, scans, or X-rays to help support your diagnosis are all acceptable.
You can obtain your medical records by requesting them from the hospital or physician where you received treatment. The hospital in question can provide you with more information about the procedure. They will ask you to sign and fax an authorization form.
To be eligible for a Hawaii MMJ card, you must have been diagnosed by a doctor with one or more of these qualifying medical conditions:
Patient Qualifying Conditions
- HIV/AIDS
- Inflammatory bowel disorders
- Glaucoma
- Chronic nausea
- Cancer
- Lupus
- Multiple sclerosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Seizure disorders
- Profound wasting disorders
- ALS
- Fibromyalgia and painful neuropathies
- Epilepsy
- Illnesses and injuries due to military service, including PTSD
- Chronic, disabling pain and muscle spasms
- Asthma under certain conditions
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome
General Guidelines
Next, we will outline how to renew your Hawaii medical marijuana card and provide you with important information regarding caregiver rules.
Medical Marijuana Card Renewal in Hawaii
You have sixty days to apply for a renewal before your card expires, and we recommend doing so as soon as possible. Please note that your renewal may take up to 5 weeks to be approved and for your new card to be made available to you. When it’s time to renew, you can renew for another two years for $77.
A two-year renewal is only available if:
- you are renewing your Hawaii MMJ card with the same medical provider who approved you the previous year
- Your doctor or APRN states that your condition is chronic and, therefore a two-year renewal is necessary
Caregiver Rules
Patients with a Hawaii medical marijuana card can appoint a caregiver to assist them with their medical marijuana needs. Caregivers must be 18 years old or older, and the patient must include them on their application.
Furthermore, caregivers can only assist one 329 cardholder at a time unless they’re also caring for a minor patient. There is no extra charge for including a caregiver in your application.
Caregivers can currently grow marijuana on behalf of MMJ patients. However, as of January 1, 2024, this will no longer be the case.
History of Cannabis in Hawaii
In 2015, the state’s Medical Marijuana Dispensary Program (Act 241) was established. It allowed those who met the criteria for medical marijuana treatment to enroll in the Hawaiian Medical Cannabis Program.
Act 241 stated that the program would be implemented by the Hawaii Department of Health in 2016, and it meant that dispensaries would be open by June of that year.
In addition, in 2016, Senate Bill 321 finally established a dispensary system and allowed the state to have eight dispensaries, one for each island. Finally, in August 2017, a dispensary made the first legal medicinal marijuana sale in Hawaii.
Hawaii Medical Marijuana Laws and Rules
Possession of up to 3g of marijuana is a violation in Hawaii, punishable by a $130 fine. If caught with more than this amount but less than an ounce, you’ll be charged with a misdemeanor and could face up to thirty days in jail.
Possession of over an ounce but under a pound is a more serious offense punishable by a year in prison. As possession of more than a pound of marijuana is a felony offense, you could face up to a five-year prison sentence if convicted.
Commercial production of more than a pound of marijuana is also a felony punishable by a 5-year prison sentence. Furthermore, if caught illegally selling any amount of marijuana, you could face up to a year in prison on a serious misdemeanor charge. If you sell more than an ounce, you face a felony charge.
Growing 25 or more marijuana plants is a felony, with penalties increasing as the number of plants increases. In addition, growing 25 or more plants on someone else’s property could result in a 20-year prison sentence.
First-time marijuana offenders in Hawaii are eligible for conditional release or diversion. As a result, if you complete your probation, your record is cleared.
The most up-to-date marijuana laws in Hawaii are available at https://health.hawaii.gov/medicalcannabisregistry/general-information/marijuana-laws-and-related-documents/.
Where can I Legally Purchase MMJ in Hawaii?
Currently, eight enterprises have Hawaii MMJ dispensary licenses, with some of these businesses having multiple storefronts.
Hawaii County
- Hawaiian Ethos
- Big Island Grown
Honolulu County
- Aloha Green
- Cure Oahu
- Noa Botanicals
Maui County
- Maui Grown Therapies
- Pono Life Maui
Kauai County
- Green Aloha
FAQ About Getting an MMJ Card in Hawaii
After you submit your application, it may take two to five weeks to get your 329 card. The typical wait time is approximately three weeks.
Users of MMJCardOnline have an extremely high approval rate. To increase your chances of success, please read the information in this guide before applying. In the unlikely event, you're not approved, you will receive a full refund.
The cost of a medical marijuana card in Hawaii by an in-state applicant is $38.50. Doctors' fees range from $150 to $200, with veterans typically paying the lower amount.
The cost of an out-of-state application is $49.50 and is non-refundable.
No. Marijuana remains federally illegal under the Controlled Substances Act, and it is thus unlawful to travel across state lines with cannabis in your possession.
MMJ cardholders in Hawaii have a variety of consumption options. In addition to dry flower, marijuana concentrate, and edibles are available.
Registered patients may purchase up to four ounces of cannabis (or 3.5 grams of concentrate) in a 15-day period. MMJ cardholders and caregivers are permitted to possess up to four ounces of marijuana.