Friday may be a very busy day for marijuana enthusiasts on Waikiki, as the first medical marijuana dispensary on the island is set to open its doors at noon.
The dispensary, Aloha Green Apothecary, won approval from the state Department of Health to begin retail sales at 2113 Kalakaua Ave. The dispensary will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week and offer kamaaina pricing, as well as veteran and senior discounts.
The store is across from the high-end shopping complex known as Luxury Row and is the second retail location for Aloha Green. The company opened its first dispensary in Hawaii in August 2017 in the Interstate Building at 1314 South King St.
“As cannabis becomes more widely accepted across the nation and an increasing number of individuals use medical cannabis, more visitors are looking to secure a source of trusted medical cannabis as a critical part of their traveling plans,” said Aloha Green spokeswoman Helen Cho.
She added, “Our company strives to serve the needs of our local patients while also supporting the state’s efforts in maintaining and strengthening its stronghold as a destination economy.”
“Aloha Green’s Waikiki dispensary will help make cannabis for medical use more accessible to registered patients living in Hawaii as well as registered patients visiting the islands,” said Michele Nakata, supervisor of DOH’s Medical Cannabis Dispensary Licensing Program.