Last updated: October 1, 2026
How Honolulu Residents Can Obtain a 329 Medical Cannabis Card
Honolulu residents who want to legally use medical cannabis in Hawaiʻi must register with the Hawaiʻi Medical Cannabis Registry Program and receive a valid 329 card. The process involves establishing a bona fide relationship with an eligible certifying medical provider, obtaining medical certification, registering through the Medical Cannabis Registry portal, paying the applicable registration fee, and receiving approval from the Hawaiʻi Department of Health’s Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation.
Meet With a Certifying Physician or APRN: Honolulu patients must work with a physician or advanced practice registered nurse who meets Hawaiʻi’s requirements for medical cannabis certification. Physicians must hold the appropriate Hawaiʻi medical and controlled substance licenses, while APRNs must meet the state licensing and prescriptive-authority requirements. The provider must establish and maintain a bona fide provider-patient relationship with the patient.
Obtain Medical Certification: Rather than receiving a cannabis prescription, the patient receives a medical certification. The physician or APRN determines whether the patient meets Hawaiʻi’s certification requirements and whether the potential benefits of medical cannabis are likely to outweigh the health risks. The provider must submit the patient’s medical certification to the Hawaiʻi Department of Health before the patient can register through the state medical cannabis registry.
Complete the Online 329 Application: After the medical provider submits the patient’s certification to the Hawaiʻi Department of Health, Honolulu patients can create or access an account through Hawaiʻi’s Medical Cannabis Registry portal and provide the requested information and documentation. Depending on the application, this may include identification as well as patient, primary caregiver, or grow-site information.
Pay the Registration Fee: A new one-year 329 registration costs $38.50, consisting of a $35 Department of Health registration fee and a $3.50 administrative fee. Eligible renewal patients may qualify for a three-year registration under the updated process. Certification charges from the medical provider are separate.
Wait for Department of Health Review: After the medical provider submits the required certification and the patient completes the state registration, applications are generally reviewed in the order received. The Medical Cannabis Registry Program states that applications are typically processed within three to five business days. Incomplete submissions may be returned electronically for correction.
Access the 329 Card and Visit a Licensed Dispensary: When the application is approved, patients with online accounts can access their electronic 329 card through the registry system. A valid 329 card and valid identification are required when obtaining medical cannabis through a licensed dispensary.
Why Honolulu Patients May Benefit From 329 Registration
Benefits Honolulu Patients May Receive With a Hawaiʻi 329 Card
A valid 329 card gives qualifying Honolulu patients state-authorized access to medical cannabis. Hawaiʻi DOH identifies four ounces as the maximum allowable amount of usable cannabis a patient may have on hand.
Registered patients and their caregivers may purchase medical cannabis through Hawaiʻi’s licensed dispensary system. State guidance provides for purchases of up to four ounces during a 15-consecutive-day period and no more than eight ounces during a 30-consecutive-day period.
A qualifying patient may grow cannabis for personal medical use when the grow location is properly registered on the 329 card. Hawaiʻi’s adequate-supply rules allow up to 10 plants per registered patient. Plants must also carry the required identification information.
Hawaiʻi allows qualifying patients to designate a primary caregiver under applicable program rules. A primary caregiver is an adult who assumes responsibility for the patient’s well-being in relation to medical cannabis. For a minor or an adult lacking legal capacity, the caregiver must be a parent, guardian, or person with legal custody.
Hawaiʻi’s licensed dispensaries may sell medical cannabis and manufactured cannabis products subject to DOH regulation and testing requirements. State rules permit products including cannabis flower, certain manufactured products, edible products, ointments, lotions, and approved pre-rolled flower products.
Patients who apply through the online registry can retrieve an electronic 329 card after approval. Hawaiʻi permits patients to use the digital registration card, which provides a convenient way to keep the required patient credential available with valid identification.
Can Minor Patients Obtain a 329 Card in Honolulu?
Yes. Hawaiʻi’s program permits minors to become qualifying medical cannabis patients. Minor applicants have additional requirements, and a parent or legal guardian must participate as the primary caregiver. DOH also maintains a separate process for families completing a minor patient application.
Which Medical Conditions May Qualify Honolulu Patients?
Hawaiʻi recognizes specific debilitating medical conditions, but state law now also permits certain primary treating medical providers to certify patients for other medical conditions when statutory requirements are satisfied. A licensed hospice provider may also certify a patient who is receiving hospice care.
Hawaiʻi’s specifically recognized debilitating medical conditions include:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- Lupus
- Epilepsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus
- Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome resulting from a chronic or debilitating disease, medical condition, or its treatment
- Severe pain resulting from a chronic or debilitating disease, medical condition, or its treatment
- Severe nausea resulting from a chronic or debilitating disease, medical condition, or its treatment
- Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy
- Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis or Crohn’s disease
Under changes enacted in 2025, a physician or APRN who qualifies as a primary treating medical provider may also certify another diagnosed medical condition when the provider is responsible for the patient’s ongoing care, determines that the potential benefits of medical cannabis are likely to outweigh the health risks, maintains the required provider-patient relationship, and supports the decision with appropriate clinical documentation and judgment.
How Much Does 329 Registration Cost for Honolulu Patients?
A new one-year Hawaiʻi 329 registration costs $38.50. This consists of a $35 DOH registration fee plus a $3.50 administrative fee. The cost of obtaining medical certification from a physician or APRN is separate from the state application payment.
Can Honolulu Patients Get a 329 Card for Free?
The Hawaiʻi Department of Health does not offer a no-cost state application. A new patient must pay the $38.50 one-year registration charge. The medical provider may also charge for certification, although Hawaiʻi now limits the certification fee to no more than $105 for a one-year certification.
What Medical Certification Is Required for Honolulu Patients?
Honolulu applicants need certification from an eligible physician or APRN. The provider must evaluate the patient within a bona fide provider-patient relationship and certify that the patient meets the requirements for medical cannabis use. Under Hawaiʻi’s updated registry process, the medical provider must first submit the patient’s medical certification to the Department of Health. After the certification is received, the patient can register through the state medical cannabis registry portal and complete the required application. Hawaiʻi also provides a provider-initiated application option for patients who need assistance completing the registration process.
How Quickly Can Honolulu Patients Receive a 329 Card?
The Hawaiʻi Medical Cannabis Registry Program generally aims to process completed applications within three to five business days. After approval, patients using an online account receive an email notification and can retrieve their electronic 329 card through the registry.
Why choose us
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Hawaiʻi Medical Provider Guidance: Honolulu patients can receive assistance understanding how to connect with physicians or APRNs who meet Hawaiʻi’s medical cannabis certification requirements.
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Convenient Certification Support: Patients can receive help navigating the medical evaluation and 329 registration process in a straightforward and organized manner.
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Privacy-Conscious Patient Assistance: Personal and medical information should be handled carefully throughout the certification and registration process.
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Guidance Built Around Hawaiʻi Requirements: Honolulu residents can receive support that reflects the terminology, procedures, and patient responsibilities established under Hawaiʻi’s Medical Cannabis Registry Program.
FAQs
Schedule Telemedicine Appointment
Honolulu patients may be able to establish the required provider-patient relationship through telehealth. Current Hawaiʻi law permits the relationship used for medical cannabis certification to be established through telehealth, provided the medical provider complies with applicable requirements and is physically located in Hawaiʻi at the time of the certification appointment.