Medical marijuana use drives majority of Hawaii gun permit denials

Hawaii authorities cite cannabis use more than any other factor when rejecting firearm applications, per Marijuana Moment.

FILE — statehouse · B.D. Gilfry / CC BY-SA 2.0

Medical marijuana use has emerged as the leading reason for gun permit denials in Hawaii, according to reporting from Marijuana Moment. The finding underscores a persistent tension between state-level cannabis authorization and federal firearm law, which prohibits users of controlled substances—including those with legal medical access—from possessing guns.

The denial pattern reflects Hawaii's dual regulatory environment. While the state has expanded medical cannabis access, including allowing use in health facilities per a March 2026 bill, and lawmakers have pursued a federal exemption from DEA oversight, federal law creates a categorical bar for cannabis users seeking firearms permits. Related coverage shows local police have updated policies on the intersection, suggesting the issue persists across the islands.

Watch whether Hawaii's continued push for legalization—including recent ballot measures and a $90 million monthly sales projection cited in January reporting—will prompt renewed advocacy for a federal medical exemption that could clarify the gun-cannabis crossover.