PEPEEKEO, Hawaii – The principals of the Lau Ola medical cannabis dispensary invited their neighbors and associates to a blessing and ground breaking for the future site of their grow facility in Pepe’ekeo.

The gathering took place Tuesday morning on Kaupakuea Homestead Road, the former site of Richard Ha’s Hamakua Springs banana farm. Ha was joined by Lau Ola’s director of operations Dylan Shropshire, consultant Autumn Karcey of Cultivo Inc., and others helping to bring the project to fruition.

Keahi Warfield blessed the land where the phase one structure will one day nurture 3,000 marijuana plants. Ha said he plans to have the operation up and running toward the end of the first quarter of 2017. Lau Ola is allowed two dispensary locations, and plans to put one in Hilo and one in Kona.

State law allows two medical cannabis dispensaries on Hawaii Island. Shelby Floyd’s Hawaiian Ethos LLC was awarded the other Big Island license.

A four-member selection panel reviewed and scored over 60 applications based on thirteen merit criteria, state health officials said, including the ability to operate a business, a plan and timeline for operations, proof of financial stability, ability to comply with security requirements, and capacity to meet patient needs. Eight dispensaries received licenses statewide.