Blessing: Maui Medical Cannabis Dispensary to Open this Summer

Nearly 100 well-wishers attended Friday’s blessing of Maui Grown Therapies, one of two medical cannabis dispensaries on Maui.

The blessing of the facility, located at 44 Paʻa Street in the Maui Lani Village Center in Kahului, comes ahead of the company’s launch of its educational programs in April.

Wendy Gibson, RN will speak to physicians, nurses and other medical physicians about how cannabis works at a lecture in the new dispensary’s Education Room on Wednesday, April 5, 2017, from 6 to 8 p.m. Gibson is a cannabis nurse educator and patient advocate who has worked in the field of healthcare for 30 years. On April 20, Gregory Park, MD will address members of the Maui County Medical Society with a presentation on cannabis and cancer at the University of Hawaii Maui College.

Registered patients, caregivers and interested community members will also have an opportunity to tour the new dispensary and ask questions about cannabis therapy during Public Open Houses on Saturday, April 8 and Saturday, April 29, with Guided Dispensary Tours, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on both days.

“Today is a notable milestone for our company,” said co-founder Gregory Park, MD who also serves as Maui Grown Therapies’ Chief Compliance Officer. “We think our Public Open Houses and education programs will be appreciated by cannabis patients, caregivers, family members and interested community members. We hope to explain the science behind cannabis therapy in a way that everyday people can understand.”

Maui Grown Therapies earned the state’s first medical marijuana dispensary license last April after achieving a near perfect score of 510 of a possible 520 points in a merit based evaluation process conducted by the Hawaiʻi Department of Health.

The company’s Production Center, located in Upcountry Maui, is powered by a solar ‘micro-grid’ renewable energy system sized to provide 100% of its electricity needs.

Subject to DOH approvals that include lab testing requirements, the company plans to open its Maui Lani Village dispensary later this summer. A second dispensary site will be announced later this year.

Kahu Lyons Naone presided over the ceremony during which he reminded company co-founders Gregory Park, MD and David Cole of the longtime Hawaiian tradition of working with plants to restore health, and how cannabis is finally emerging from an era of misinformation into a time of appreciating its medicinal benefits.

Maui Grown Therapies, cannabis dispensary at Maui Lani in Kahului. Blessing event, 3.24.17 by Wendy Osher.

Maui Grown Therapies, cannabis dispensary at Maui Lani in Kahului. Blessing event, PC: 3.24.17 by Wendy Osher.

Maui Grown Therapies, cannabis dispensary at Maui Lani in Kahului. Uncle Les Kululoio and Lyons Naone at blessing event, PC: 3.24.17 by Wendy Osher.

Maui Grown Therapies, cannabis dispensary at Maui Lani in Kahului. Blessing event, PC: 3.24.17 by Wendy Osher.

Maui Grown Therapies, cannabis dispensary at Maui Lani in Kahului. Blessing event, PC: 3.24.17 by Wendy Osher.

Maui Grown Therapies, cannabis dispensary at Maui Lani in Kahului. Blessing event, with music by Mitch Kepa. PC: 3.24.17 by Wendy Osher.

Maui Grown Therapies, cannabis dispensary at Maui Lani in Kahului. Blessing event, with Lyons Naone. PC: 3.24.17 by Wendy Osher.

Maui Grown Therapies, cannabis dispensary at Maui Lani in Kahului. Blessing event, PC: 3.24.17 by Wendy Osher.

Maui Grown Therapies, cannabis dispensary at Maui Lani in Kahului. Blessing event, PC: 3.24.17 by Wendy Osher.

Maui Grown Therapies, cannabis dispensary at Maui Lani in Kahului. Blessing event with Lyons Naone. PC: 3.24.17 by Wendy Osher.

Maui Grown Therapies, cannabis dispensary at Maui Lani in Kahului. Blessing event, PC: 3.24.17 by Wendy Osher.