How to Get Your 329 Medical Cannabis Card

DOH Video of instructions on How to get a 329 card: click here

In the State of Hawaii, one needs a card to legally possess, use, and grow cannabis within the state's limits. Legalization and decriminalization are not even being considered this year, 2018, in the legislature. No one will know that you have a card unless you tell them. The police can only verify cards, when there is cause, and you give them your personal information. If you want to grow, I think getting a card is an absolute must, unless you want to grow outside the law's parameters. If you want to travel in your car in possession of marijuana, then not having a card may lead to the police confiscating your car and selling it at auction, before you can even plead guilty to possession. If you want to interact with other card holders and their families, what I call the OHANA PATIENT MARKET, then having a valid card is a must. The Ohana Patient Market has superior products and plants at the "going" price, which depends on your island, and will save you a few hundreds of dollars per ounce equivalence. The Ohana Patient Market is NOT the black market. It is Hawaiian families taking care of themselves and their own like they have always done.  And of course, if you want to use the state dispensaries, then you will need a card.

GUN STATEMENT

Reasons NOT to get a card are very personal, but I will add that since some people like guns, that if you ever have had a card (past or current) and wish to buy a gun under the current laws, renew a gun license, or get a concealed weapon license, the police consider you automatically mentally unfit and an addict, and you will have to jump through many hoops to prove to them that you are not crazy or an addict.  Surrendering your card, or not having a current card does not protect you. Past issuance of a Hawaii State medical cannabis card is on file, and it may be very expensive getting the drug testing and mental health evaluations to prove you are neither addicted or mentally unfit. These tests and evaluations are not something that I do, so I will not be of any help in this issue. You will need to consult with an addiction psychiatrist or psychologists of your choice. I do not know of any personally who are supportive in this area.

Card Renewals

Please plan your visits and renewals accordingly. Patients may reapply up to 60 days in advance of their expiration dates, which is always the last day of the month. Hawaii State Cannabis licenses are currently taking about 1- 2  weeks to be issued by the state. OF COURSE, WITH COVID19, THINGS ARE IN FLUX AND MAY CHANGE QUICKLY.

All aspects of the DOH registration are the responsibility and legal concern of the patient.  It is submitted to the state DOH as a legal document, signed by the patient, who is responsible for all aspects of the application, except for the Physician's Certification.

As of November 1, 2017, we will no longer see patients who have not completed their error-free DOH online registration beforehand, including the uploading of your required documentation! If corrections are needed, (review the common errors here) you can deal directly with the DOH. This DOH online system has been in place for over two years, and it should be quite clear by now that the DOH does not tolerate any errors in the information. Once your application is sent to the DOH, we do not have any access to it. 

 

329 Blue Card Procedures:

Here is the video of instructions from the DOH: click here

1.    Fill out personal info on the home page: www.hipppc.com You will receive an email from Dr. Barton that contains his phone number.

2.    New patients must contact Dr. Barton for pre-screening preferably via text or email. Please include the following info:

       I.    Age (Minors under the age of 21 require a parent to attend during office screening, see FAQ for more info)

       II.   Island of residence

       III.  Diagnosis: Specify DOH eligible medical condition(s):  

1. Glaucoma
2. Cancer
3. Lupus (added effective June 29, 2017 as per Act 041, SHL 2017)
4. Epilepsy (added effective June 29, 2017 as per Act 041, SHL 2017)
5. Multiple Sclerosis (added effective June 29, 2017 as per Act 041, SHL 2017)
6. Rheumatoid Arthritis (added effective June 29, 2017 as per Act 041, SHL 2017)
7. Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus
8. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
9. Post-traumatic stress disorder (added effective July 1, 2015 as per Act 241, SLH 2015), or
10. “The treatment of these conditions”, or “A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one or more of the following:
11. Cachexia or wasting syndrome,
12. Severe pain,
13. Severe nausea,
14. Seizures, including those characteristic of epilepsy,  
15. Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis or Crohn’s disease.  

      IV.   Reason for a Blue Card: How would cannabis be used as medicine?  For what legal symptoms?

                  Be sure to read: https://www.medicalmarijuanaofhawaii.org/when-contacting-us-clinic-contact-info         

 3.    After receiving prescreen approval from Dr Barton, create an eHawaii.gov DOH account (you must use valid email address): https://login.ehawaii.gov/lala/

4.    Go to: https://medmj.ehawaii.gov/medmj/welcome and logon.

5.    Complete the online application:

I.    Physician name is David Barton.

II.   Upload your required documents. They must be in focus and clear, and still valid for at least a few months. If not, renew them with the appropriate government entity.

III.  Submit payment of $38.50.

IV.  Application reminder: Name on 329 card MUST MATCH government issued valid ID.  

V.   FILL OUT APPLICATION ACCURATELY.  Follow registration tips: http://health.hawaii.gov/medicalcannabisregistry/patients/registration-p... and be sure to read this: https://www.medicalmarijuanaofhawaii.org/fyi-avoid-doh-application-rejections-errors. Quite frankly, I am very tired of pointing out errors. Just putting down your correct middle name ( as on your govt issued ID), and the correct island in your address will help a lot. Please make an effort to upload the correct documents.

VI.  Save and submit application. The DOH registration is then sent automatically to Dr. Barton's state account queue. If there are any errors, Dr Barton may or the DOH will send it back to your personal state account for editing. You will need to make the corrections, and then send it back, after resigning and resubmitting it. This is all done only online. If I tell you I sent it back, it is NOT by email or snail mail. It is done only on the internet.

6.   Attend consultation with Dr. B: (Until COVID19 issues resolve, the following schedules are no longer in effect)

I.   “329” hours:  Wednesdays 12:30PM- 4PM, or Saturdays 8:30AM-10AM. Telehealth follow-ups are usually Thursdays at around 3 to 5 pm.

II.   An appointment time is required. Contact Dr Barton for more information. Those with significant traveling health issues, disability, or pain issues may contact Dr Barton so other arrangements can be made.  I am currently using DOXY.ME/HAWAIIPAIN for telehealth interviews.

III.   Dr. B advises you to send a text prior to visit, letting him know when you plan to visit. Before traveling to Waimanalo, check this website for possible closures.  Effective February 2018, all patients must notify Dr Barton that they wish to attend a card session to either renew their license certification, or to get a new one. There are too many inappropriate people showing up for clinic which makes things difficult for all clients. Please do this by either text or email. My contact information can be found after submitting the above contact information in the auto-responder letter. 

IV.   New patients: Bring $150 cash or check-only for NEW patients.  $150 for Veterans, and renewals. Only well established patients can renew for two-year cards under certain conditions, and the two-year card fee is $300. You must get Dr Barton's authorization for a two-year card prior to registering for such with the DOH.

V.    Enter “Dr. David Barton” into Google Maps for direction.

VI.   During your consultation Dr. B will review and certify your condition and application.

VII.  Dr. B will submit your application to DOH.

VIII. You can NOT submit your application directly to DOH.

Further instructions are found here: https://www.medicalmarijuanaofhawaii.org/clinic-hours-and-costs-preparing-your-office-visit

7.    329 cards are now downloaded from your personal account at the Department of Health. They no longer mail them by USPS.

For more info visit DOH Medical Cannabis Registry Program: 

http://health.hawaii.gov/medicalcannabisregistry/how-does-the-medical-marijuana-program-work/

 

Supplemental Information

My medical license number (Dr David Barton) is found here:

(https://pvl.ehawaii.gov/pvlsearch/info/MD-14877-0)

(if the system does not take the information or you get an error message, clear your browser's cache and reboot the browser.)

The process is the very same every year; for new patients and renewals. There is no difference.

____________________________________________________________

To Prescreen: 

https://www.medicalmarijuanaofhawaii.org/when-contacting-us-clinic-contact-info

 

 When contacting me:  https://www.medicalmarijuanaofhawaii.org/when-contacting-us-clinic-contact-info. Please read before calling or writing me.

 

For the most current Oahu office Clinic Hours and Costs:

Preparing for your office visit. https://www.medicalmarijuanaofhawaii.org/clinic-hours-and-costs-preparing-your-office-visit.  

Let's be very clear, in case the new system is confusing. You cannot submit an online application with any errors. It will be rejected by DOH and you will be asked by the DOH through email to fix it. Patients must submit an online application with a valid email and telephone number. If your online registration application is not certified by the doctor, you will never get your 329 medical cannabis card, and you will not be legal, no matter how many times you tell me you paid the state fee. See their website for why you paid their state fee without the guarantee of a card to be certified and issued.

 

In order to be certified and to complete your license registration, you must be seen in the clinic by Dr Barton, whether it is for a renewal or a new license. Patients with health issues, whose disability affects their traveling abilities, and non-Oahu patients need to contact me directly.  The current waiting period for cards after being seen in the clinic, using the online process without any registration errors is about 2 weeks with some patients getting their cards within a week now.

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Please Follow Directions Carefully

PLEASE NOTE: Urgent: The majority of patients are finding that the state's new process for obtaining a medical cannabis card is a bit overwhelming, and too many errors are being made.  The system does not allow us to fix any of your errors. I am NOT able to edit your online forms. I am returning too many applications due to errors and deficiencies, which is NOT sustainable because of the time requirements.  Going forward, I can no longer respond to all the emails and texts asking how to fill out the online registration.  You may be subject to the higher fee schedules as posted under fees, if there are errors and deficiencies. All I can say is follow the directions. Please follow the directions on this site as well as the Dept. of Health's website.

 

  The application process of the DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) has changed completely as of December 2015. In the past, one reason physicians avoided becoming involved with the program was the huge application burden placed on the medical staff offices. Now, the DOH seems to have made this registration process much harder, and it does require some internet and computer expertice.  If you are having trouble with the new system, please find someone to help you. Our office can help with small issues only.  

  The online registration does cut down on multiple points of US Postal Service mailings (and expense) that delay and add several weeks to the issuance of cards.  It decreases the delay of returned paper applications due to errors, as well!  However, any errors will delay your license issuance, and lots of errors are still being made!

https://www.medicalmarijuanaofhawaii.org/so-you-want-329-hawaii-state-medical-cannabis-license 

For patients who have not renewed in a few years:

It is all online and there are no more paper applications. There are no more money orders to the state. You will need to do the online portion from home (see below) before coming to the office to be certified. All patients still need to be seen in the office for the medical visit in order to receive the certifiction and my signature on your state application, as required by the law.  The NEW DOH process requires that the physician "sign" the online certification form using a digital signature. We still have our own medical forms and consents that need to be signed every year.  We have reduced the office renewal fee to $150 for all patients successfully using the new process from home without our assistance. 

Applying online requires a fair amount of time and effort on your part, initially, but should be very easy for follow-up years. If you arrive at the office not having completed it, expecting the office staff to do it for you, then there is a very good chance that you will not be able to be seen, and will need to return once it is completed at home. It is just too disruptive to the clinic. This is especially true if you made no effort.

You may inquire if the office staff is able to help, but we make no guarantee.  The following fees will be collected if you want the office to do the computer work for you:

The total office fee for having the staff do the entire applcation is $250. This requires making the state accounts, with username and passwords, filling in the multiple online pages, printing, scanning, and making the appropriate files to be uploaded, and uploading them, followed by the submission of your credit card information to pay the state. 

The total office fee for applications that require assistance to print, scan and upload the government issued ID/DL/Passport and cetificates is $225.

The total office fee for uploading your ID file only is $200.

You DO NOT need to have a second physician sign your application. I am your primary care physician as far as your cannabinoid therapy is concerned.

 When visiting the Waimanalo office, the village requests that you park outside the gate on the left side to allow the locals access as you wait for the gate to open. Past the gate, drive very slowly to the office. Please be courteous to others, cooperative, and non-aggressive.