The Hawaii Department of Health and Department of the Attorney General will begin enforcing Hawaii’s hemp retailer and distributor registration requirements statewide July 1.

The Department of Health’s Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation said the grace period for hemp retailer and distributor registration will end June 30.

Beginning July 1, the Department of Health and the Attorney General’s Office will begin enforcing registration requirements and existing hemp product compliance laws.

The attorney general’s office said the action follows months of outreach and education to help businesses understand and comply with Act 269, which was passed in 2025.

The law requires all retailers and distributors of manufactured hemp products, including online and out-of-state sellers shipping products to Hawaii, to register with the Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation.

“Since the beginning of the year, our focus has been on outreach and voluntary compliance,” OMCCR Program Manager Andrew Goff said. “Now that the grace period is ending, it is critical that all businesses ensure they are properly registered and that the products they are offering for sale meet Hawaii’s requirements.”

Businesses selling or distributing manufactured hemp products in Hawaii, including online and out-of-state entities serving Hawaii customers, must register with OMCCR as a hemp retailer or distributor. They also must review inventory for compliance with state law, including THC limits, labeling and packaging requirements, and prohibited product categories, including hemp flower, pre-rolls and vape products.

Businesses are expected to remove or discontinue sales of noncompliant products immediately, according to the department.

DOH will handle registration compliance and administrative actions for registered hemp retailers and distributors, while the Attorney General’s Office will assist with investigations and enforcement against ongoing violations of the registration requirement.

Businesses that have not registered, or that continue to sell noncompliant hemp products, may face fines and administrative penalties, product embargo, seizure and destruction of noncompliant products, and civil actions to stop unlawful sales, including court-ordered injunctions.

Businesses that continue operating in violation of state law may face escalated enforcement, including actions that can result in the closure of retail locations, according to the departments.

State officials also encouraged property owners and landlords to make sure tenants comply with state hemp laws. Properties used for ongoing unlawful sales may be subject to civil enforcement actions, and landlords may face legal consequences if violations persist on their premises.

A $50 fee covers a five-year OMCCR registration period. Registration information, guidance materials and compliance resources are available at health.hawaii.gov/hempprogram.