HILO — Hawaii Island historically has contained the lion’s share of medical marijuana patients, but that trend could gradually be changing, data released Friday by the state Department of Health indicates.
As of June 30, 38 percent of the 17,591 patients registered in Hawaii’s medical marijuana program were located on Hawaii Island. That’s down from 40 percent in March and 42 percent in December.
The percentage has fluctuated since 2015, when the DOH began posting data, but has usually remained at least 40 percent.
Meanwhile, the percentage of patients hailing from Oahu has jumped from 25 percent in December to 29 percent last month, a more than 1,300-patient increase. The Big Island’s patient count increased by about 300 people in that same time.
More than half of Hawaii’s patients were older than 46, according to the report. Sixty-five percent were male and 66 percent used medical marijuana for severe pain. About 13 percent used medical marijuana for muscle spasms, 6.2 percent for PTSD, 5 percent for severe nausea and 7.4 percent for cancer. Collectively, fewer than 6 percent used marijuana for cachexia, glaucoma, seizures and HIV or AIDS.