Medical Marijuana of Hawaii, by Hawaiian-Pacific Pain and Palliative Care

Latest NEWS and NOTICE TO ALL PATIENTS IN HAWAII:

We will be scheduling for next month through the North Shore Haleiwa and windward Waimanalo Clinics. Both locations are beautiful drives. Our fees remain as low as possible still. In fact, we have lowered the renewal fee by $25. We continue to not charge extra for caregivers card processing which is a common practice elsewhere. This is a cause for us and the fees barely cover our costs. Part of the fees goes toward promoting native Hawaiian programs

Everyone who has come to the Village of Pu`uhonua O Waimanalo have enjoyed the peace and serenity of the village and have expressed how wonderful a place it is to visit and view the windward side and ocean. The North Shore drive to is equally as beautiful and relaxing a drive as they come. The Waipahu office is being built out and is not ready yet.

Stay tuned! Also, please email us with questions about card and application status. The above number (808) 321-3793 is for scheduling only. If the scheduling line is on answering mode for any reason, please feel free to call me personally. Just fill out the above registration fields, and an auto-responder letter will include instructions in how to call my cell number. It is best to call me between noon and five P.M. If I am unable to answer, leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible in order to get you on the schedule.

The Ewa Beach location is no longer authorized to act on behalf of Hawaiian Pacific Pain and Palliative care. All applications, cards, and other NED issues are being handled by new staff, based in my Waimanalo office. Please do not contact the Ewa Beach staff. They will just refer you to my number. Your charts are based in the Waimanalo office now in a secured fashion according to HIPAA guidelines.

Questions are best directed by email to HawaiiPain@gmail.com. Obviously, this is a lot of work. I have been told by the NED to stop telling patients to call them, the NED, about the status of cards. I have been told that there is only one NED person assigned full time to the Medical Marijuana program. Many people are calling about the temporary letters which the NED stopped doing a couple of months ago without much notification. I am working with the ACLU to monitor the response time of the NED, which is directed by law. ALL blue cards that we receive are quickly mailed to their owners.

Hawaiian-Pacific Pain and Palliative Care is and always has been a legally separate entity from the Jimenez Clinic. I am in possession of all medical records generated with my patients for the past few years.

Some temporary arrangements are also being made for leeward and Honolulu patients, especially West Oahu patients who find it hard to travel. Call us and arrangements can be made.

The Hawaii Narcotics Enforcement Division has recently changed two items:  First, the fee for the state application has been reversed back to $25, immediately.

Apparently, there need to be hearings and procedures followed before the increase can take effect.  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 for the past six months is being processed by another group within NED and I don't know when they will be finished.

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 home bound patients who use cannabis for their chronic symptoms and disabilities. We all need to appreciate and thank them for their hard work.(http://www.facebook.com/acluhawaii)

(See news section for more commentary or follow me at FACEBOOK: look for Doctordave Barton).

I continue to get calls from out of state people who wish to buy cannabis while here in Hawaii. Let me just say that there are NO DISPENSARIES in Hawaii. There are no stores. There is NO mechanism for safe use by out of state visitors. I enjoy talking to people from all over, but, "What's the point?" There are no prescriptions or recommendations as in California or other states. Hawaii is very conservative and the rules are set by the Hawaii State Legislature. Although most support the Medical Use of Cannabis, they still will not make any progressive improvements in the laws.

 

Medical Marijuana of HawaiiMedical Marijuana of Hawaii is brought to you by Hawaiian Pacific Pain and Palliative Care (HIPPPC.com) While based on Oahu, we have satellite clinics for patients on Kauai and Maui.  As well, arrangements are being made for a clinic on the Big Island soon through an association with distinguished Pain Physician Dr Steven Rosenblatt of Kona.

We offer more than just a signature on your Hawaii Medical Marijuana Program application.  At Hawaiian-Pacific Pain and Palliative Care, you will be seen by a board certified Pain Medicine Physician with nearly three decades of clinical experience.  Cannabinoid Medicine is serious medicine, and needs to be taken seriously.  As recognized by the US National Institutes of Health/ National Cancer Institute: The potential benefits of medicinal Cannabis for people living with cancer include antiemetic effects, appetite stimulation, pain relief, and improved sleep. In the practice of integrative oncology, the health care provider may recommend medicinal Cannabis not only for symptom management but also for its possible direct antitumor effect.(http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/healthprofessional/p...). Perhaps the greatest application for the medical use of cannabis is in end of life care, where the family must take the responsibility of encouraging this therapy, due to federal limitations in its use by official federally underwritten hospice programs.

You do not need any intermediate services, promising to "facilitate" the acquisition of your card.  I would also avoid those providers who come to the Islands for day clinics from other states, once a month or so, even charging over $200 for the medical fee. Some give free evaluations but still charge $250 to "sign and process" the forms.  There are plenty of Hawaii based physicians to care for your needs on all the islands. It does not take much work to find a provider based here, and to do it right. You must be evaluated by a Narcotics Enforcement Division certified physician, and all legitimate medical doctors will be able to show you their NED certificate.

Also, the scams that I have seen here on Oahu usually are located in facilities that are clearly not medical offices. As well, it would be wise to stay away from those providers who see patients in groups in private homes or offices, if you want to guarantee that your card will be valid for the entire year. The state regulations are clear that it must be done within the settings of a legitimate medical encounter with the development of a true doctor patient relationship. Some physicians may do otherwise but you do not have to take that risk. Make sure that the program stays legitimate for the benefit of those who truly are in need. 

I have heard from a few patients that one provider in Honolulu is promising that he can get the cards to them in 24 hours. I don't know what he is giving them but it is NOT valid.  Only the Hawaii Narcotics Enforcement Division (NED) can issue any licenses.  

Also, I get a lot of emails from out of state visitors asking for an appointment to get a cannabis prescription.  There are no cannabis prescriptions in Hawaii.  There are no dispensaries in Hawaii.  By law, we do not provide information about where to get and how to grow cannabis. You must be a Hawaiian resident with ID, Driver's License, or passport to get a Hawaii Medical Cannabis Card.  Cards from other states are NOT recognized here, and again, there are NO dispensaries where medical cannabis cards are used.

Cannabis medicine is a legitimate alternative to the usual traditional medications being prescribed for pain, muscular spasm, and neuropathy. It is safer and more effective than many, if not all, traditional medications used for a variety of conditions. Our goal is to combine traditional pain medicine therapies with your right to use cannabis in a medicinal fashion. Marijuana can be used legally in Hawaii to treat a variety of other illnesses as well.  These are described under Ailments above.

To qualify, you need to schedule an appointment for a consultation. Qualifying patients receive a Hawaiian Medical Marijuana Card ("Blue Card") that will allow you to legally use Cannabis to treat qualifying ailments. You can email me after registering and I will try to answer any and all questions about pain and cannabis. Under HIPAA laws, all information shared with me is held in the strictest of confidence, even your email address and phone number.

 

Signed: David J. Barton, MD

 

Our Hawaii Locations

On Oahu, I have clinics in several locations. Let the scheduler know where you live and the closest clinic will be determined. I am also associated with Malama First, LLC and we are developing a satellite clinic in Pu'uhonua Village of Waimanalo for Native Hawaiians. Also, I have made arrangements to see patients on the North Shore. The exact location is being worked out with final contracts. Hopefully, this will make things much easier for the North Shore Medical Cannabis Patients.

On Kauai, we are located on Lehua Street in Kapaa on the second floor above the Hoku Health Food Store. The building is one block mauka behind the Dragon Building.

On Maui, I have made arrangements to see patients in the Wailuku Malama First office on Vineyard Street. The office is located to the rear of the building.   Driving Directions for our various locations can be found below.

Other Hawaiian Locations are pending.

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