KAPOLEI, Hawaii — The Hawaii State Department of Health has given formal notice to Cure Oahu “to proceed to retail” after passing a final onsite inspection at its second retail facility, according to a news release.

The new location is in the Kapolei Village Center at 4850 Kapolei Parkway in Kapolei, and according to Michele Nakata, DOH dispensary licensing section supervisor, “Cure’s new dispensary will provide much needed access to patients in West Oahu.”

According to the release, a statewide total of 34,125 people have registered as in-state patients and 2,764 were registered caregivers as of Dec. 31, 2021. Severe pain was the No. 1 reported condition experienced by registered adult patients. Seizures and post-traumatic stress disorder were the primary conditions experienced by children 18 years of age and under.

Registered patients and their caregivers can purchase up to four ounces of medical cannabis during a 15 consecutive day period and a maximum of eight ounces over a 30 consecutive day period.

Use of the product must be on private property and may not be used in a moving vehicle, at work, on the beach, on hiking trails or in any public space. It is illegal to use or possess medical cannabis on any federal property, such as military installations and national parks.

Medical cannabis has been legal in Hawaii since 2000, but it is still illegal under federal law. It’s classified as a Schedule I substance together with heroin and cocaine under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning these substances have a high potential for abuse and dependency.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Hawaii, along with 18 other states, have comprehensive medical cannabis programs. Nineteen states have adult and medical use regulated programs; 10 states have CBD/Low THC programs; and three have no public cannabis access programs. As of Feb. 3, 2022, 37 states and four territories allow medical use of cannabis.