Hawaii’s Department of Health has postponed awarding their medical marijuana licenses until April 29, after experiencing delays with applicant fingerprinting and background checks.
The health department was due to name the license recipients on April 15, according to the Marijuana Business Daily report.
Peggy Leong, supervisor for the state’s Medical Marijuana Dispensary Licensing Program, said that the applicants have been very responsive and cooperative. The majority would submit their fingerprints and consent forms by April 19, she said. Nearly 60 applications were submitted, including one by actor Woody Harrelson.
“A small number of applicants are traveling abroad and unable to respond as quickly as we had hoped. In addition, it also came to our attention that many business entities, such as limited liability corporations, corporations and trusts failed to submit the consents and fingerprints of the individuals involved in the entities,” Leong said in a press release. “The department sent an email to all applicants clarifying the requirements of who is subject to a background check.”
Eight medical cannabis licenses will be divvied out among the four islands: Big Island and Maui will have two each; Oahu will have three, leaving one for Kauai. Each organization will be permitted to operate two grow sites and two dispensaries.
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