Hawaii’s fourth medical cannabis dispensary opened its doors yesterday after receiving final approvals from the state Department of Health, according to a Pacific Business News report. Noa Botanicals is the second company approved to sell medical cannabis products in Oahu.
Brian Goldstein, Noa CEO, indicated the dispensary would have four flower strains upon opening with another “four to six” on their way along with tinctures, oils, and concentrates. Noa will offer other products, such as lozenges and lotions, as soon as Steep Hill Hawaii – currently, the only laboratory certified to test medical cannabis products in the state – is permitted to test those products.
According to the report, Ohau’s Aloha Green Apothecary opened in August along with Maui Green Therapies in Maui. Pro Life Sciences Maui opened at the end of last month.
According to Health Department figures, as of Sept. 30, there were 19,190 patients and 1,418 caregivers registered with the program. Of those patients, 65.5 percent, or 16,701, are severe pain patients. The majority, 11,398, of the state’s patient population are 46-years-old and older, compared to the 6,829 under 46. The Department of Health indicates they issue “roughly 1,200” medical cannabis registry cards per month. According to their figures, though, they issued 571 from Aug. 31 to Sept. 30 and 615 from July 31 to Aug. 31.