Hawaii Cannabis Laws 2026: Medical Only, With Small Amounts Decriminalized

Hawaii's legislature legalized medical cannabis in 2000, making it the first state to do so through a law passed by lawmakers instead of a ballot measure. Licensed medical dispensaries opened in 2017. In 2019, Hawaii decriminalized small amounts. Recreational cannabis is still not legal. The Department of Health runs the medical program.

Is weed legal in Hawaii?

Only for registered medical patients. For everyone else, small amounts are decriminalized but not legal.

Penalties without a medical card

• 3 grams or less: a civil violation with a $130 fine, no jail
• More than 3 grams, up to 1 ounce: a petty misdemeanor, with up to 30 days in jail and a fine
• Larger amounts and selling: misdemeanors and felonies, depending on the amount

Medical cannabis in Hawaii

Patients need certification from a physician or advanced practice registered nurse for a qualifying condition, then register with the Department of Health's Medical Cannabis Registry.

Limit	Medical patients
Possession	Up to 4 ounces of usable cannabis at a time (products count toward it)
Home grow	Up to 10 plants, mature or immature, shared between a patient and caregiver
Where to buy	State-licensed medical dispensaries

Visiting patients with a valid medical card from another state can apply for a Hawaii registration and buy at Hawaii dispensaries while they're here.

Where can patients use it?

Private property only. Using cannabis in public, at the beach, in a car, or on federal land (including national parks and military bases) is illegal, even for patients.

Driving and work

Driving while impaired is illegal, including for patients. Employers can keep drug-free workplace policies, and patients aren't protected from discipline for using on the job.

Is anything changing in 2026?

Adult-use legalization bills were introduced again in 2026 but did not pass. Hawaii doesn't have a citizen ballot initiative process, so any change has to come from the legislature. The medical program and the decriminalization rules are unchanged.

Federal law in 2026

Federal law still treats recreational cannabis as illegal. In April 2026, the federal government moved marijuana sold under a state medical license (and FDA-approved cannabis medicines) to Schedule III, but adult-use cannabis is still Schedule I. That means it's still banned on federal land and can't legally cross state lines, even between two legal states.

Separately, a federal ban on intoxicating hemp products takes effect in two steps: synthetic and converted cannabinoids like delta-8 lose their legal status on November 12, 2026, and naturally derived hemp THC (THCA flower, hemp delta-9 edibles and drinks) on December 11, 2026.

Where to shop

Only registered patients can buy at Hawaii's licensed medical dispensaries. Browse dispensaries in Hawaii in our directory, including Honolulu, or smoke and vape shops in Hawaii.

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Last reviewed October 8, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so check the official sources below before you rely on any detail.