Medical cannabis patients who plan on traveling to Hawaii from a different state can now legally buy their natural medicine on the palm-tree speckled islands, thanks to the recently enacted ‘Cannabis Visiting Patient’ program.

The program was initiated by the Hawaii Educational Association for Therapeutic Healthcare.

“Having the out-of-state program will open the opportunity of coming to Hawaii to many people,” said the Executive Director of the trade organization, Pedro Haro. “It’s really not a choice to have to make … to go without medication, particularly when it’s helping them.”

Out-of-state residents who may be planning a vacation to Hawaii should first apply for a medical cannabis card online. This is required by the Hawaii Department of Health, which has instructed travelers to pay the $49.50 fee for the card prior to their arrival in Hawaii.

Hawaii’s Cannabis Visiting Patient Program open to existing medical cannabis patients

Individuals who haven’t got a medical cannabis card that was issued in their home state will not be able to apply for Hawaii’s ‘Cannabis Visiting Patient’ program.

At the current time, 32 states and the District of Columbia,  as well as four U.S. territories, have permitted the use of cannabis for medical purposes.

The card that travelers must get their hands on is known as a “329” registration card in Hawaii. March 5 was the day on which the Hawaii Department of Health started accepting applications.

Once approved, out-of-state medical cannabis patients can purchase a maximum of four ounces inside one of the licensed dispensaries on the “Aloha State”.

Applicants must qualify for certain conditions to receive a medical cannabis card in Hawaii

Don’t expect to get approved for a medical cannabis card in Hawaii if you have not been diagnosed with a qualifying condition. AIDS, cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are a handful of the approved conditions in Hawaii for receiving medical cannabis.

Individuals who are in possession of a medical cannabis card that was issued in their particular state will be able to apply for a card in Hawaii with 60-day validity. Cards can be applied for up to 60 days before a patient lands on Hawaiian territory.

The Department of Health strives to approve applications for medical cannabis cards in Hawaii on the same day that they are received. Once approved, applicants can download their card to their Internet-enabled device, like a smartphone or laptop.

Considerations before joining Hawaii’s Cannabis Visiting Patient Program

Patients who wish to procure medicinal cannabis in Hawaii will not find dispensaries on Lanai or Molokai islands. They will, however, find licensed dispensaries on the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui and Oahu.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that you can transport weed from one island to another when you visit. Federal regulations prevent the inter-island transportation of weed and recreational cannabis remains illegal in Hawaii.

Click here to apply for a 329 medical cannabis card.