If you are a Hawaii resident suffering from certain illnesses, including cancer or AIDS, you may be allowed to use marijuana for medical reasons. There are set steps you must take to ensure that your medicinal marijuana use is legal. This guide outlines how to get a medical marijuana prescription in Hawaii.

• Hawaii legalized marijuana for medicinal use in 2000. All Hawaii residents who use marijuana to treat their illnesses must be registered with the state. To become registered, a resident needs yo obtain a doctor's certification. There is a limit on how much marijuana they may possess for medicinal purposes and where that marijuana can be used.

• • NOTE: This page is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as recommendation by Mahalo for any sort of illegal or unauthorized drug use. Always ensure that you are aware of all laws and risks regarding the use of marijuana before doing so. The information provided on this page was current as of March 2009 and the laws and processes described below are subject to change.

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical or legal advice. Please contact your doctor and attorney before using the information presented here.

• Patients who are legally authorized to use marijuana for medicinal purposes in Hawaii must have a "debilitating medical condition." Medical marijuana may be either used to treat the condition itself or to help ease the side effects of medications that are used to treat the illness. Conditions that can qualify patients for medical marijuana may include:

1. Cancer
2. Glaucoma
3. HIV or AIDS
4. A disease that causes severe nausea, wasting, pain or seizures

• Marijuana is a Schedule I drug and as such, a prescription cannot be issued for its use. In Hawaii, a doctor must issue written certification authorizing a patient to legally use marijuana for medical purposes. The physician must register information on the patient with the Hawaii Department of Safety. This information, to be entered into a statewide registry, includes the patient's:

1. Name
2. Address
3. Patient identification number

• Once a patient has obtained written certification from a physician recommending the use of marijuana for medical purposes, he must also register with Hawaii's Department of Safety. The state will then issue the patient a registration certificate. Both the registration certificate and the physician's written certification are valid for one year.

• Studies have shown that marijuana can ease symptoms of some illnesses, including the pain of cancer and the wasting caused by diseases like AIDS. If you live in the state of Hawaii and wish to legally use marijuana to treat your illness, you must obtain certification from a doctor and register with the Hawaii Department of Safety.