HILO — A Big Island company is looking to open the first medical marijuana dispensary on the island this week.
Big Island Grown aims to open three locations on the island within the next month, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Monday.
The company is one of only two businesses licensed to sell medical marijuana products on the Big Island.
The opening of a dispensary in Hilo might happen Wednesday, but it depends on when the state Department of Health completes a final inspection of Big Island Grown’s facilities, CEO Dylan Shropshire said.
“It’s all pending circumstances out of our control,” Shropshire said.
Dispensaries must follow strict requirements before the state Department of Health allows them to open, said Janice Okubo, communications officer for the department. All dispensary products must be subjected for testing, and the business must adhere to security requirements at its growing facility and retail locations.
Big Island Grown’s locations are equipped with what Shropshire called “military grade” security equipment, including 24-hour surveillance.
The company, previously known as Lau Ola, was among the first eight companies statewide selected in 2016 to open dispensaries. Its opening date has been pushed back multiple times, and it rebranded to become Big Island Grown.
“The idea was to showcase the island in a way that represents what the island can offer,” Shropshire said.
The company plans to open locations in Waimea and Kailua-Kona by the end of the month, Shropshire said.
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Information from: Hawaii Tribune-Herald, http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/
