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Medical
marijuana
rules OK’d

Patients will be allowed
to possess up to three ounces,
but a federal ban remains

---

By Janine Tully
Star-Bulletin

New rules to allow patients in Hawaii to use marijuana for medical purposes have been approved by Gov. Cayetano and will go into effect next Thursday.

Under the rules, patients will be allowed to possess up to three ounces of marijuana and grow up to seven plants -- three mature plants and four immature plants.

Department of Public Safety Director Ted Sakai said even though the state will allow the use of marijuana for medical reasons, it is still illegal under federal law and the state is trying to work with the federal government to resolve the conflict.

Physicians will be able to issue written certificates for patients to use marijuana to ease their pain, Sakai said at a press conference this morning.

"The program is designed to alleviate suffering in the community and get some experience and make it work properly," Sakai said.

Licensed physicians in Hawaii can obtain the certificates beginning today at the Department of Public Safety, Sakai said.

The department will issue a temporary registration certificate to patients upon receipt of the physician's written certificate and payment of a $25 fee.

Physicians will be required to notify the department if a patient no longer requires the medical use of marijuana.

The Legislature passed a law last year allowing medical use of marijuana, but left it up to the Department of Public Safety to come up with rules to administer its use. Public hearings were held last month.