Aloha Green Holdings Inc. said Thursday it is dropping plans to sell non-THC products at its King Street medical marijuana dispensary starting next week.
The company, one of eight dispensary licensees selected by the state Department of Health in April 2016, last month announced plans to begin sales of products with cannabidiol (CBD), which is derived from hemp and does not contain THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive compound found in marijuana.
“The company has since retracted CBD products from the ‘soft opening’ in order to remain completely compliant to rules and regulations that remain ambiguous,” the company said in a news release.
Medical cannabis cannot be sold until the products are tested by independent laboratories, which have yet to be certified by the DOH.
“Aloha Green stands behind the medical cannabis dispensary program as set out by the state and continues to work closely with state regulators to ensure public, product and patient safety,” said James H.Q. Lee, Aloha Green’s CEO, in the news release.
The dispensary will still hold its opening on the ground floor of the Interstate Building at 1314 S. King St., but will use the space for patient education and community outreach until the laboratories are open and it receives final approval from the state to open for business, the company said.
“The foundation for this industry is still being laid, and while Aloha Green is eager to serve patients, we need to balance those goals with the understanding that we are in uncharted territory,” said Tai Cheng, chief operating officer, in the news release. “Language around what dispensaries can and cannot do remains unclear, which is expected as the industry becomes more established. Remaining compliant and supportive of the Department of Health as the regulator of the industry and a close partner is paramount.”
Thomas Wong and Charles Lee were awarded the license for Aloha Green last year.
