Farming MMJ may pay better than Bananas?

[rainyjim]

Medical? There isn't enough users here to justify 'adding jobs' as a byproduct of this industry. Did anyone even read the draconian laws on this matter? Its not like just anyone can grow it.

[2liveque]

I would not be surprised one bit if Richard Ha is already involved in being a MM Dispensary player. If you look at the names who submitted applications to be the first dispensaries, many were connected politicos just like Ha.

[kalakoa]

Medical? There isn't enough users here

Big Island has ~6500 permit holders out of a population of ~195000 = about 3.3%.

Did anyone even read the draconian laws

Yes, and it's not clear that the dispensary/production permit holders will be able to keep up with demand, even with the unrealistically low number of consumption permit holders.

[leilanidude]

Big Island has ~6500 permit holders out of a population of ~195000 = about 3.3%.
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Previous reports have shown "medical reasons" such as a sore toe...
Let's just say fraud is rampant in that number of permits.

[kalakoa]

Per this editorial, it's actually 5500 patients:

http://westhawaiitoday.com/opinion/lette...rs-1-14-16

Which works out to ~2.8% of the population, or (if you prefer) 1375 patients per dispensary. I wonder how "affordable" their "medication" will be?

[Kapoho Joe]

Maybe in snowy Colorado you need a dispensary, but with our year round growing season here in Hawaii, DIY is the better pathway. I will be interested to see if these new shops can turn a profit!

[HawaiiTedd]

Hawaii state medical marijuana statistics can be found directly on the Department of Health website:

http://health.hawaii.gov/medicalmarijuan...-30-15.pdf

As of 10/31/15....Hawaii island had 4,998 patients and 743 caregivers.


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[lavalava]

i have heard from several sources that the black market intends to engage in a price war with the dispensaries...

[kalakoa]

the black market intends to engage in a price war with the dispensaries

It won't be much of a "war" given the dispensaries' overhead.

[rainyjim]

Given the number of patients on the big island I don't see how anyone could operate a business within the law as it currently exists and make a profit.

Ha's big line is: "If the farmer makes money, the farmer will farm, if no make money no farm".

I don't see how this could be a lucrative business model in such a rural area unless legalization occurs because of our tourist industry.