Hawaii Governor Steps in to Protect Caregivers
Just before New Year, Governor Green signed an executive order aiming to protect medical cannabis caregivers in Hawaii. The order has been seen as necessary after hurried legal changes from Hawaiian lawmakers that effectively outlaw medical cannabis caregivers and large community grow sites on the islands.
Governor Josh Green signed an executive order on Dec. 30, which seeks to protect medical cannabis caregivers who work with MMJ qualified patients. The executive order will protect them from recently introduced changes in the law that practically make working as a caregiver impossible.
“As a physician, the Governor recognizes that the legal changes due to go into effect on January 1, 2025, concerning primary caregivers to medical cannabis patients could lead to negative health outcomes,” said a statement from the Governor’s Office.
With the executive order, the Governor instructs the Department of Health to not use resources to address situations where a caregiver is growing cannabis for a patient within the bounds of the existing law before January 1. The order should permit caregivers to continue taking care of patients without fear of enforcement from the Department of Health, as long as they are not involved in any other violations.
“We have medical cannabis statutes to provide patients the relief they desperately need as they navigate very serious health issues. We must protect the patients and their caregivers when the caregivers cultivate cannabis for a patient in a manner that fits squarely within the spirit of the medical cannabis law,” said Governor Green.
“The Hawai’i Department of Health [DOH] strongly supports continuing to allow primary caregivers to cultivate medical cannabis for qualifying patients as needed for the patient’s health,” said DOH Director Dr. Kenneth Fink.
The Governor also urged lawmakers to fix the law relating to primary caregivers so that they can continue to perform essential services for patients struggling with illnesses that are qualifying for medical marijuana treatment.
The recent legal changes for medical marijuana in Hawaii followed after links were found between illicit drug dealers and larger community grow centers where many caregivers have had arrangements to cultivate up to 10 medical plants.
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Stephen Andrews
