Hawaii Governor Signs Bill Allowing Nurses to Recommend Medical Cannabis
Nurses can now certify patients to use medical cannabis, thanks to legislation signed into law today by Governor David Ige.
Under the new law – which takes effect immediately – nurses in the state can recommend medical cannabis to people, allowing them to become registered with the state as legal medical cannabis patients, the same as physicians. Advocates of the change say it’s necessary as there aren’t enough doctors willing to certify patients.
Thanks to a law passed last year, medical cannabis dispensaries in the state are legal as of July 15th, though they’re not expected to be open until the end of the year due to a delay in licensing.
Hawaii legalized medical cannabis in 2000, the first in the nation to do so through their legislature, rather than a citizen’s initiative.
