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Hawaii Lawmakers Approve Bill To Let Patients Access Medical Marijuana Immediately Instead Of Having To Wait For Registration Processing

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Hawaii lawmakers have passed a bill that would allow patients to access medical cannabis immediately after filing their registrations, rather than waiting for their cards to be delivered, as required by current law.

In a joint hearing of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and Trade and Consumer Protection Commission on Wednesday, members approved legislation from Sen. Angus McKelvey (D), with an amendment that would reduce the one-time purchase limit for cannabis to one ounce instead of the two ounces the measure would have covered as introduced.

Sen. Joy San Buenaventura (D), chairwoman of the Health and Human Services Committee, said at the hearing that regulators are equipped to track such one-time sales “using administrative rules as appropriate,” and she said she supports this in part from personal experience.

The President said SB 3315 He could help his family because they were helping a terminally ill relative, “where we tried all the prescription capabilities” and “what we really needed was the one-time use.”

“So for those reasons, I will support (the bill) with amendments” to reduce the purchase limit from two ounces to one ounce.

The approval of the measure also comes as a member of parliament Weigh in on proposals to legalize marijuana in the stateimmediate action is expected.

Historically, the Hawaii Senate has been legislatively more accommodating to cannabis reform, and the 2026 session has been no different so far.

That was proven, in part, after senior House lawmakers announced it earlier this month A couple of legislative bills created in the chamber were dead during the year.

Despite renewed proposals — including one from House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee Chairman David Tarnas (D) that would put legalization before voters on the ballot — to move forward this year, sponsor and House Speaker Nadine Nakamura (D) said there was not enough support in the legislature to pass this round.

State officials released a report last month the potential economic impact of recreational marijuana legalization on the stateincluding the revenue effects associated with domestic and international tourism.

All told, the researchers said survey data and comparative analysis indicate Hawaii could see $46-90 million in monthly marijuana sales in the fifth year of implementation, after taking into account the maximum tax rate of 15 percent on cannabis products.

The Hawaii Senate narrowly defeated a proposal last year that would have increased the amount of cannabis a person could possess without risk of criminal charges by five times.

If the measure had become law, the amount of decriminalized cannabis in Hawaii would have increased from the current 3 grams to 15 grams. Possession of any marijuana up to that 15-gram limit would have been classified as a civil infraction, punishable by a $130 fine.

The Senate bill that would legalize marijuana for adults, on the other hand, has finally stalled. That measure, SB 1613, did not make it out of committee during one term of the legislature.

While advocates believed there was sufficient support for the legalization proposal in the Senate, it is widely believed that House lawmakers would ultimately defeat the measure, as they did last February with a companion legislative bill, HB 1246.

In 2024, a The legislation passed by the Senate also failed in the House.

It came just days after last year’s House vote to stop the bill approval of a pair of committees at a joint hearing. Prior to that hearing, jurors received nearly 300 pages of testimony, including from state agencies, advocacy organizations and members of the public.

Gov. Josh Green (D) signed separate legislation last year allow medical marijuana caregivers to grow marijuana on behalf of five patients than the current one.

And in July, the governor signed another bill Establishes new rules for Hawaiian hemp productsincluding the requirement for distributors and retailers to obtain registration from the Department of Health.

Legislators also sent a bill to the governor help speed up the expungement process for people who want to clear their past marijuana-related criminal records– a proposal Green signed the law last April.

This measure, HB 132, of Tarnas, aims to speed up the abolition Green’s pilot program signed into law in 2024. Specifically, it will remove a distinction between marijuana and other Schedule V drugs for the purposes of the decriminalization program.

The bill’s sponsors said the law’s current wording forces state officials to manually comb through thousands of criminal records to identify those eligible for expungement in the pilot program.

Meanwhile, in November, Hawaii officials detailed the rules allow medical marijuana dispensaries to sell a wide range of products for patients— including dry herb vaporizers, rolling papers and grinders — while revising state code to clarify that cannabis oils and concentrates can be marketed for inhalation.

The department as well He confirmed that he is in favor of federal marijuana reorganization– The policy change that President Donald Trump ordered to be carried out quickly, but which has not yet been implemented.

Hawaii lawmakers recently advanced a bill allow eligible patients to access medical marijuana in healthcare facilities.

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Regulators are also launching a series of courses designed for this purpose educate doctors and other healthcare professionals about medical marijuana as the state’s cannabis program expands.

The under the medical marijuana expansion bill signed by the governor In late June, it not only makes it easier for more patients to access cannabis, but also contains a provision that advocates find problematic.

Before lawmakers sent the legislation to Green, a conference committee revised the plan, including a provision allowing the DOH to access medical marijuana patient records held by doctors for any reason.

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Organigram to acquire German cannabis company

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16 minutes ago

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February 18, 2026

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Organigram Global has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the German operator Sanity Group GmbH. “Organigram’s proven track record of executing highly strategic and complementary M&As is exemplified by the proposed acquisition of Sanity Group, a strategically significant and financially rewarding transaction. By combining our strengths as a cannabis-focused company, we will be well-positioned to deliver significant value to our shareholders and accelerate growth in key European markets. Together, we will set a new standard in the global cannabis sector,” said Paolo De Luca, Organigram’s Chief Strategy Officer.

“The proposed acquisition of Sanity Group is a key step in Organigram’s global expansion strategy as a leader in the rapidly expanding cannabis industry,” said Organigram CEO James Yamanaka. “This transformational acquisition will bring together two market leaders, expand our commercial footprint into Europe and strengthen our competitiveness in the world’s largest federal cannabis markets.”

Based in Berlin and founded in 2018, Sanity Group’s main operations are centered in Germany. The German cannabis market is expected to be worth more than 2 billion euros in 2025, serving around 800,000 patients. The market is expected to exceed 4.5 billion euros by 2028, with an expected 50% year-on-year growth rate, with the patient population reaching around 1.8 million (2.0% of the population), putting it on par with other major global medical markets such as Israel (1.9%) and Australia (2.3%).

“Based on the cooperation to date, I have great confidence in the vision of both companies to scale internationally,” said Finn Hänsel, CEO of Sanity Group. “Together we will unlock multiple opportunities for growth, especially through entering new European markets. Organigram has already proven to be an exceptional partner with extensive experience in cultivation, manufacturing, patient-focused research and innovation. These strengths will be key to actively shaping the global cannabis market. Our strategic goal is to build a global market leader in the coming years.”

As part of the proposed transaction, Sanity Group is valued at up to 250 million euros, 130 million euros upfront and up to 120 million euros tied to defined performance measures for the twelve months ending March 31, 2027. Decisions about the future government structure have not yet been made. “Today, our main focus is integration and long-term value creation, rather than rapid structural change,” explained Seyit Kaya, CEO of Sanity Group.

For more information:
Organigram Global Inc.
(email protected)
organigram.ca/

The Sanity Team
(email protected)
sanitygroup.com

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AmericanHort joins Amicus Brief to defend H-2A wage reform, as workforce concerns loom large for growers

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1 day ago

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February 17, 2026

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AmericanHort has joined more than 25 agricultural organizations to file an amicus brief defending the Department of Labor’s (DOL) updated H-2A wage rule.

An amicus brief (“friend of the court”) is a legal document submitted by organizations not directly involved in a case to provide relevant information, expert opinion or legal arguments to influence the court’s decision.

The coalition says reform is essential to protect growers from unsustainable increases in labor costs and provide businesses with the stability they need. The lawsuit challenging the updated DOL rule is expected to introduce damaging uncertainty into the strained labor system essential to the operation of horticultural businesses.

The brief asks the court to throw back efforts to dismantle the Adverse Effects Wage Rate (AEWR) framework. AmericanHort supports the Interim Final Rule and views the updated methodology as a necessary step in restoring balance and predictability to the H-2A program. The horticulture industry needs stability to sustain production of houseplants and to keep businesses competitive.

“Labor stability is fundamental to sustaining American plant production,” said AmericanHort President and CEO Ken Fisher. “The updated H-2A wage methodology reflects the real economic conditions faced by growers, giving companies a framework within which they can plan while continuing to protect workers. The anticipated labor policy allows our industry to remain competitive, invest in growth and support the communities that depend on horticulture.”

It comes as Congress approaches another funding deadline, with appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ending at the end of the week. Although lawmakers have finalized 11 of the 12 regular spending bills for FY2026, DHS remains unresolved due to disagreements over immigration enforcement policy. If negotiations continue to stall, Congress may be forced to approve a short-term extension to avoid a disruption in operations.

For horticulture employers, the uncertainty surrounding DHS funding has real workforce implications. DHS oversees the agencies responsible for administering the seasonal visa programs that many greenhouse, nursery and landscape businesses use to maintain stable operations. A disruption or slowdown in DHS functions could create processing delays and uncertainty for employers already facing tight labor markets and rising production costs.

The compressed timeline is made more challenging by the president’s day off and several speeches that will take many lawmakers away from Capitol Hill. Democratic leaders have continued to demand policy changes as part of the negotiations, and Republicans and the Administration have expressed their opposition to several of these proposals, leaving no clear way forward.

For more information:
AmericanHort
Email: (email protected)
www.americanhort.org










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EHIA pushes for whole plant recognition and 1% THC threshold

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2 days ago

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February 16, 2026

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The European Industrial Hemp Association has welcomed the European Commission’s proposal to clarify that all parts of the hemp plant fall within the EU’s agricultural scope, while reiterating its call for a harmonized THC threshold of 1%, in line with the ongoing review of the Common Agricultural Policy and the review of the Common Market Organization Regulation (EU) 1308/2013.

In its position paper entitled The hemp sector proposal for the 2028–2032 NPB, the EIHA set out a set of reforms aimed at strengthening legal certainty, competitiveness and sustainability for the European hemp sector. The proposals are expected to be debated in both the Council and Parliament in the coming months.

Recognition of the entire plant
EIHA expressed strong support for the Commission’s plan to expressly recognize all parts of the hemp plant, including leaves and flowers, as agricultural raw materials derived from authorized varieties. The association says this clarification is essential to end persistent legal uncertainty for farmers and processors, avoid divergent interpretations between member states, protect the internal market and provide clearer conditions for investment and innovation in the hemp value chain.

© Vasha97124 | Dreamstime

By formally recognizing the entire plant, the EU would resolve longstanding inconsistencies that have plagued the sector and promote greater regulatory uniformity.

1% THC threshold
Along with whole-plant recognition, EIHA continues to advocate for a harmonized EU-wide THC threshold of 1% for industrial hemp. The current limit of 0.3%, they say, no longer reflects agronomic and climatic reality. Environmental changes can push the crops they combine beyond their limits, exposing growers despite good faith farming practices.

According to EIHA, the 1% threshold would provide legal certainty and reduce climate-related crop losses, expand the EU variety catalog and improve seed availability, support research, breeding and innovation, align EU standards with international benchmarks and maintain a clear line between industrial hemp and narcotic cannabis. Industrial hemp cultivated below 1% THC remains non-intoxicating, and continues to meet consumer protections through EU legislation regulating THC levels in final products.

Francesco Mirizzi, the managing director of the EIHA, stated that the first practical steps must be taken to reach the 1% goal: “The first decisive step to reach the 1% limit is to sensitize the members of the EU Parliament and the national ministers that 0.3% does not make sense from an agronomic point of view and if we compare the EU’s vision with the countries that are more advanced, if we compare it with the new Switzerland. Zealand or South Africa”.

As things begin to move on the hemp side, Francesco says the timelines now begin with the first discussions in the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, although the challenges are already clear. “Discussions in the Parliamentary Agriculture Committee are expected to start next month, and member states are already debating the Commission’s proposal to allow the whole flower. Some member states are particularly reluctant, but we are confident that we will get there.”

EIHA says it stands ready to work constructively with EU institutions and Member States to ensure that the post-2027 NPB provides long-awaited clarity and competitiveness to the European hemp sector.

For more information:
European Industrial Hemp Association
(email protected)
eiha.org/

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