HI: DOH ENFORCEMENT OF HEMP RETAILERS CONTROVERSY
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HONOLULU (KITV) — It’s been two weeks since the Department of Health (DOH) began enforcement of Hawaii’s hemp retailers. Some critics of the new rules said it’s driving them out of business.
“Millions in damage has already been done,” said hemp retailer Lance Alyas.
This is one of dozens of hemp retailers here in the islands now at risk of being shut down under new rules being enforced by the Department of Health.
“Twenty to 30 businesses closed down and a majority of them have stopped selling these products completely,” he said.
The owner of Oahu Dispensary and Provisions said hemp retailers are living in fear. The DOH began enforcing new laws in July, requiring businesses to register with DOH in order to sell hemp products and ensure operators are complying with limits on THC — the psychoactive compound in pakalolo.
“That’s a crackdown. That’s enforcement in and of itself,” Alyas said. “It’s intimidating when the Department of Health comes to your business and says you can’t sell this, you can’t sell that, or else we’ll close you down or we’ll criminally enforce on you.”
For some businesses like Alyas’, that’s about 90% of inventory.
He’s one of almost 60 licensed retailers selling manufactured hemp products, but is suing the state to reverse the new rules.
“We face revenue loss. We’ve had employees leave because they don’t want the uncertainty,” he said. “When we closed down we had countless people — cancer patients included — crying to us because they don’t know where to get their medicine.”
Medical marijuana dispensary Aloha Green Apothecary said previously the state had no real regulations and relied on the federal rules for selling hemp products.
“What legislators didn’t know was that hemp cannabinoids could be manipulated to create higher THC products and these higher THC products can be euphoric and cause intoxication,” said Ty Cheng, president of Aloha Green Apothecary. “The issue that many hemp retailers face right now is that they’re uncomfortable with the level of regulation that they’re being subjected to.”
The DOH has visited almost 30 registered businesses and said so far compliance has been good. But there are still other businesses likely not following the rules.
“The THC limits they’ve been in place for a long time okay and some of the products like the vapes and the smokeables you were never allowed to sell in Hawaii,” said Andrew Goff, DOH Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation program manager. “Our goal is not to crack down on people selling hemp. Our goal is to make sure people are compliant. So we’re starting with education and with warnings, and to make sure that everyone knows because it is a confusing area.”
DOH is urging consumers and businesses to read the labels on products that you are buying or selling.
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