About UsEffective Change, LLC is a Kaua’i Medicinal Cannabis Evaluation Center Patients interested in medicinal cannabis treatments residing on the beautiful Hawaiian island of Kaua’i may now contact a cannabis doctor from Effective Change, LLC for a state-approved evaluation — the 329 card. This medical marijuana evaluation center is a physician-owned mental health and substance abuse treatment program centered in Hilo, Hawai’i with extensions proudly reaching every main island. Effective Change is headed by an empathetic team, including Matthew Brittain, LCSW, Dr. Christopher Lawinski, M.D., as well as Tatiana and Jonelle. They use their combined knowledge in medicine, cannabis cultivation, psychology, and human forensics to certify Hawai’i residents in need for medicinal cannabis use. Effective Change prides themselves on their ethnic diversity: Filipino, Hawaiian, Korean, Caucasian, and African! Hailing from every corner of the globe, they’re unified behind a love of sharing and supporting all things cannabis. Effective Change is the longest-lasting and friendliest medical marijuana evaluation center in Hawai’i. Hawai’i residents in search of cannabis treatments are encouraged to contact a representative from Effective Change for more information. History: The founder of Effective Change has proudly advocated for the medical use of marijuana in Hawai’i for nearly two decades. Matthew Brittain founded his Hilo medical marijuana evaluation center in 2002 and expanded to include O’ahu and Kaua’i in 2006, to Moloka’i in 2007, and finally to Maui in 2010. Effective Change’s history of cannabis advocacy began in 1999 when a bill for legalization made its way into the legislature. Shortly thereafter in 2002, one of the founding fathers of the Hawai’i cannabis program, Dr. Wenner, passed away. Matthew Brittain decided to pick up the mantle and established Effective Change in order to provide continuity of care to those who could no longer seek medical marijuan re-certification. Ever since, he and Dr. Lawinski have worked side by side to provide Hawai’i residents with cost-efficient, compassionate, and convenient medicinal cannabis certifications. Procedure: For a Kaua’i patient to acquire a medical marijuana recommendation in the state of Hawai’i, first visit a licensed physician like those found at Effective Change. Once the physician has verified a patient for medical cannabis use, he or she will issue a medicinal cannabis recommendation which must then be registered with Hawai’i’s Medical Marijuana Registry Program before the patient can begin to use cannabis for medicinal purposes. Be prepared to pay a $70 state fee and $31.50 in processing fees in order to register the recommendation with the Department of Health. Once the registration process is complete, the Department of Health will issue a 329 Registration Card which then allows the Kaua’i patient safe and lawful access to medical cannabis . Local Legislation: Firstly, mainland and other out of state residents cannot acquire a medicinal cannabis recommendation without a state-issued form of identification, which requires a permanent Hawai’i address. If patients from the Hawaiian islands fall into any of the qualifying conditions for medical cannabis use, Effective Change encourages them to contact the Hilo office via telephone, fax, or email to schedule an appointment or to ask any further questions. Hawai’i law states that medicinal cannabis patients may only possess an “adequate supply” of medical cannabis at any given time. This limit cannot exceed: seven marijuana plants, regardless of maturity, and four ounces of usable marijuana. Once registered and certified by the state of Hawai’i, the law allows for medical cannabis patients to possess and use dried leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant or any mixture and preparation thereof as well as the use of paraphernalia relating to its administration–all, however, must be appropriate for medical use. Please note that administration in public places is strictly prohibited. Sen. Kalani English (D-East Maui), along with nine co-sponsors, introduced Senate Bill 548 in February 2017 that would legalize marijuana for recreational use. Stay tuned for more on this. Service Locations: Effective Change is the sole medical cannabis certification center that services every island, aside from Lanai. Centered in Hilo, their team will travel from island to provide their certification and consultation services to as many Hawai’i residents as possible. From the eastern shores of Kapaa and the northern end of Princeville on Kaua’i to residents of Kailua, Honolulu are more than welcome to seek the assistance of Effective Change. Hawai’i residents on Maui, from Kapalua to Hana and Wailea-Makena fall within Effective Change’s certification and consultation purview as well. And the big island? From Captain Cook to Waimea and on down to Ocean View, stop on by Hilo to access the excellent, patient-first services that Effective Change has on offer. Location Information: Kaua’i, one of Hawai’i’s lushest and wettest islands, is home to beautiful scenery, waterfalls, countless chickens, and greenery as far as the eye can see. Iconic scenes from some of Hollywood’s most famous films, like Jurassic Park, were filmed in the tropics of Kaua’i. Hike the 10-mile long Waimea Canyon, scale its famous Na Pali Coast, or relax in the gentle sands of Hanalei Bay; from its northernmost tip to its southernmost shores, Kaua’i is a natural beauty. Hawai’i’s “Garden Isle” is worth the trip.
