Legislation aims to crack down on cannabis industry, improve oversight

Several bills passed in the 2025 Legislative Session, aimed at improving transparency and oversight in Hawaiʻi’s growing hemp industry, and addressing safety and continued access for patients relying on cannabis for medical treatment. 

“These measures encourage safe access to medical cannabis, protect consumers, and attack the unregulated cannabinoid and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) market we see on store shelves in our communities,” said Rep. Scot Z. Matayoshi, who highlighted the measures. “Some stores are essentially selling unregulated marijuana which can give consumers a similar high to illegal cannabis and is harmful to child development. The measures we passed this year take action to protect our keiki and our communities,” said Matayoshi (D-49, Kāne‘ohe, Maunawili), Chair of the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce. 

HB1482 prevents sales of cannabinoids that were previously not classified as prohibited and requires consumers to be over 21 and/or have a medical card to purchase cannabinoids. It requires retailers to register and undergo mandatory inspections, prohibits the sale of tinctures to those under 21, and establishes penalties for unregistered sales. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, distributors and retailers of manufactured hemp products must be registered with the Department of Health and obtain a certificate of registration to legally operate in Hawaiʻi.  

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HB302 aims to modernize Hawaiʻi’s medical cannabis program, improving patient access and safety while addressing the issues caused by the illicit cannabis market. Key components of the bill include authorizing the Department of Health to inspect medical records for compliance, expanding the definition of qualifying patients to include those under hospice care and those certified by their primary healthcare providers, enabling provider-patient relationships to be established via telehealth, and allowing dispensaries to sell hemp products and cannabis-related accessories.

SB1429 strengthens patient access within the medical cannabis system. The measure increases the number of patients a caregiver can serve from one to five and repeals the planned ban on caregiver cultivation set to take effect in 2025. It also grants the Department of Health the authority to impose administrative penalties for violations and extends deadlines for rule making and staffing flexibility to ensure effective program administration.  

These three bills are set to become law upon the governor’s signature.