Hawaii approves first medical marijuana testing lab

Hawaii’s Department of Health issued its first provisional certification to a medical marijuana testing lab, bringing the state’s eight vertically integrated dispensaries closer to opening their doors.

Honolulu-based Steep Hill Hawaii, which was certified Monday, will need about four days to test and return product, according to the lab’s owner, Dana Ciccone.

That means Hawaii dispensaries that have marijuana ready to test, such as Aloha Green, could start selling products soon.

Aloha Green, also based in Honolulu, was hoping to begin the lab testing process Tuesday, according to its owner.

After a dispensary receives its tested product, however, the business will have to pass one more Department of Health inspection, Teri Freitas Gorman of Maui Grown Therapies told The Maui News.

According to Freitas Gorman, health department officials still must:

  • Monitor a practice sale.
  • Approve security procedures.
  • Ensure the business is compliant with state rules.

Two more labs may also be close to attaining their testing certifications, according to a state official.

The labs are drawing closer to coming on line more than a year after the state’s eight licensed dispensaries were allowed to open by law.

There apparently is a big customer base waiting to do business with those dispensaries. Through June 30, nearly 17,591 medical marijuana patients had registered with the program.

– Associated Press and Marijuana Business Daily