First dispensary opens in Hawaii ADVERTISING First dispensary opens in Hawaii HONOLULU (AP) — Dispensary sales of medical marijuana in Hawaii are underway after patients waited 17 years for a legal way to purchase the drug. Maui Grown Therapies received
First dispensary opens in Hawaii
HONOLULU (AP) — Dispensary sales of medical marijuana in Hawaii are underway after patients waited 17 years for a legal way to purchase the drug.
Maui Grown Therapies received approval from the state Department of Health to begin selling medical cannabis Tuesday.
The dispensary started selling medical marijuana to patients Tuesday, said Teri Freitas Gorman, director of community relations and patient affairs.
“Clearly this is a historic day not just for Maui but for the state of Hawaii,” Freitas Gorman said. “This is the first time in Hawaii that patients will be able to buy lab-tested, quality-assured medical cannabis from a state-licensed dispensary. We’re so excited.”
The Maui dispensary has been pre-registering patients and began selling medical cannabis to patients by appointment only, Freitas Gorman said. Walk-in sales will start in about a week.
Hawaii was among the first states to legalize medical marijuana in 2000. But the state didn’t legalize dispensaries until 2015, so the state’s 18,000 patients had to grow or obtain the drug on their own.
Packers release DL Letroy Guion
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers released defensive lineman Letroy Guion, ending a three-plus year tenure in Green Bay marked by off-field problems.
Guion was arrested in June on suspicion of driving under the influence in Hawaii. In an unrelated incident, the NFL suspended him without pay for the first four games of the 2017 season for violating a policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
It was the second disciplinary action against Guion in three seasons. The league suspended him for the first three games of the 2015 season for violating its substance abuse policy.
The Packers announced Guion’s release Tuesday while the team was at practice.
Attorney suggests trial in Guam
sex abuse cases
HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — Dozens of clergy sex abuse lawsuits are scheduled to go through mediation later this year, but the attorney representing the plaintiffs said he is prepared to abandon mediation and take the cases to trial.
David Lujan made the statement Monday as four abuse lawsuits were filed against Archbishop Anthony Apuron, who does not want to participate in mediation with his accusers but instead wants the federal court to move forward and rule on his motions to dismiss the cases.
A stay was granted for the cases of accusers represented by Lujan, but a judge Monday denied Lujan’s motion to postpone further action on the lawsuits.
Apuron, through his attorney, Jacqueline Terlaje, succeeded in blocking Lujan’s request to stop a hearing on the motion to dismiss the cases.
Lujan, counsel for 77 plaintiffs, alleged in federal court that victims of clergy sex abuse and the court are being “scammed” and “played” by the Archdiocese of Agana and Apuron. Lujan said the church is rushing to settle the cases and at the same time is challenging the constitutionality of a 2016 law that allowed the lawsuits to be filed in the first place.
Apuron, who is also undergoing a Vatican canonical trial, is not considering any settlement until after the trial in Rome, Terlaje said Monday.
A meeting in Hawaii among all parties is set for Sept. 5, Lujan told the court.
Apuron is one of 14 of Guam’s current and former or deceased clergy accused of sexually abusing or raping minor boys and girls.
