The Hawaii Narcotics Enforcement Division has recently changed two items: First, the fee for the state application has been reversed back to $25, effective immediately.
Also, they are now processing applications much faster for all newer applicants. Blue cards are now being received about four to five weeks after submission. The backlog of many patients from last summer was being processed by another group within NED and I have been told by the NED that they have finished that task.
*If you have not received your card, then it most likely meanns that there was a problem in processing your card because of an application error, address problem, or an incorrect address was provided. Please keep us up to date with accurate addresses as this is a significant issue in the processing of cards.
Second, the NED has stopped sending out the quick temporary license letters since the "blue cards" are being issued more quickly. All renewals should now plan on being seen in the clinic two months ahead of the expiration date.
We continue to work with the ACLU to preserve and progress the rights of all Hawaiians within the confines of the laws written and passed by the Hawaii State Legislature. The ACLU has been involved in all these issues, and, most recently, even preserved the traditional rights of physicians to visit and care for those homebound patients who use cannabis for their chronic symptoms and disabilities. We all need to appreciate and thank them for their hard work. You can do this by visiting ACLU's Facebook page.