Will You Encounter Pot on Your Hawaii Vacation?

February 25th, 2009

We get the question a lot: Is there really a lot of marijuana in Hawaii?

Well, yes and no.  Marijuana is pretty accessible throughout Hawaii, which is considered a “national leader” among states in the production of high-grade marijuana.  Homegrown marijuana, either harvested from sophisticated indoor grows or from outdoor grows, remains a staple for the local demand and for export to the mainland.

Medical marijuana certificates are distributed on the islands, where local users are permitted to grow plants at their residences for personal consumption.  That’s actually the only way medical marijuana can be used legally.  (Selling marijuana — even for approved medical use — is illegal under any circumstances.) Hawaii’s medical marijuana law allows certified patients to keep three mature plants, four young plants and an ounce of marijuana for each mature plant.

The availability of marijuana is perceived by our local population as normal.  Small, mail-order marijuana operations from the islands to the mainland apparently exist and survive by shipping small quantities through air parcel providers.  Marijuana may be shipped to the west coast in shipping containers marked “household goods,” as growers allegedly move to the mainland, although this has not been confirmed.  While marijuana and crime are not related with great concern in the state, marijuana is frequently encountered in the public schools among students as young as sixth grade.  A recent survey of high school students indicated that 70% of the respondents have easy access to marijuana.

Five states (California, Tennessee, Kentucky, Hawaii and Washington) had marijuana crops worth over $1 billion last year.

From time to time, controversy arises because local police bust people who are “distributing” marijuana to seemingly needy recipients.  Earlier this month, a man was arrested because he was found in possession of more than the permitted number of marijuana plants and was allegedly selling marijuana for profit.  The man, who holds a state-issued medical marijuana permit, was released, but the case will be referred to the county prosecutor’s office for possible prosecution on charges of commercial promotion of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and promotion of harmful drugs.

Back in November, seven men involved in a medical marijuana advocacy group were arrested on suspicion of running a drug-trafficking ring.  The group admits selling or giving away marijuana to patients who might not otherwise be able to obtain it. Police have said they are not targeting patients who comply with the medical marijuana law.

You may have heard the term “Green Harvest.”  About 30 years ago, an effort, both state- and federally-funded, targeted growers with the use of low-flying helicopters searching for marijuana.  The choppers disrupted rural life and invaded the privacy of residents.  Some claimed that the program did little to eradicate marijuana and even promoted the use of other, more dangerous drugs.  Green Harvest is no longer funded.

If you’d like to know anything more about marijuana – medical or otherwise – don’t come to Hawaii-Aloha Travel.  That’s about the extent of our knowledge, and interest.

Posted by Jim Winpenny

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Entry Filed under: Maui, Oahu