Hawaii Cannabis Regulations

Regulatory Agency: Department of Health (DOH)  ·  Regulations checked: March 26, 2026

Cannabis Landscape Overview

Hawaii was one of the earliest states to legalize medical cannabis, passing Act 228 in 2000. However, the program operated without dispensaries for over 15 years, with patients relying solely on home cultivation. Licensed dispensary sales finally began in 2017 after Act 241 (2015) established a dispensary framework. The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) administers the program through its Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation.

As of 2026, Hawaii has eight licensed dispensary locations across the islands (two per county: Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai). Qualifying patients may possess up to four ounces of cannabis and cultivate up to 10 plants. The state has considered but not passed recreational legalization legislation, keeping the program medical-only. Hawaii's island geography creates unique supply chain and pricing challenges not seen in mainland states.

Packaging Requirements

General Standards

• All products must be dispensed in child-resistant, tamper-evident packaging compliant with 16 CFR 1700 standards
• Packaging must be opaque, not allowing visibility of the product
• Packaging may not be designed to appeal to minors or resemble commercial candy or snack products
• Resealable child-resistant packaging is required for multi-dose products

Environmental Considerations

• Hawaii encourages recyclable and sustainable packaging materials where feasible
• Excessive or unnecessary packaging is discouraged under state sustainability guidelines

Labeling Requirements

Required Label Elements

• Dispensary name, license number, and location
• Patient name and registry ID number
• Product strain name and type (indica, sativa, hybrid)
• THC and CBD content as verified by third-party lab testing
• Batch number and date of testing
• Net weight or volume
• Recommended dosage instructions for manufactured products
• Expiration date
• Hawaii medical cannabis universal symbol

Warning Statements

• "For registered qualifying patient use only"
• "Keep out of reach of children and pets"
• "This product may impair your ability to drive or operate machinery"
• "Women should not use cannabis during pregnancy or while breastfeeding"

Advertising Rules

Hawaii maintains conservative advertising rules for medical cannabis dispensaries. Dispensaries may maintain a website and limited signage at their licensed locations. Advertising may not target minors or appear in media where more than 30% of the audience is under 18. Health or therapeutic claims are prohibited unless supported by FDA-approved research. Television and radio advertising is not permitted. Print and digital ads must include dispensary license information and the state-mandated medical-use-only disclaimer.

Licensing Overview

The DOH issues dispensary licenses on a per-county basis, with a statutory cap of two licenses per county (eight total statewide). Each licensee may operate up to two retail locations and two production centers. Applicants must demonstrate experience in pharmaceutical or agricultural operations, financial stability, and robust security plans. Background checks are required for all owners, officers, and employees. License renewals occur annually with compliance audits. Hawaii requires licensees to maintain seed-to-sale tracking through the state's designated system.

Cannabis Taxes in Hawaii (2026)

Hawaii cannabis businesses collect and remit multiple overlapping taxes. Below is a summary of the rates that apply to retail cannabis sales as of 2026. Regulatory agency: Hawaii Department of Health.

• Excise tax: No cannabis excise tax
• Sales tax: 4% state general excise tax (GET) applies to medical cannabis + typical 0.5% county surcharge
• Local cannabis tax: County GET surcharge (0.5% in Honolulu) applies
• Medical exemption: Hawaii is medical-only; all sales are to qualifying patients
• Effective combined rate: 4–4.5% medical combined

Hawaii uses the general excise tax (GET) rather than a sales tax; there is no cannabis-specific excise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Browse by Regulation Category

Explore Hawaii Cannabis