TRUST … defined as a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability or strength of someone or something. And in our medical decisions, TRUST is a core requirement. You do not want to visit a doctor you do not trust. You would not fill your medical prescriptions from a pharmacy you do not trust.
The primary reason for creating a system of medical cannabis dispensaries was to ensure patients could trust the medication they were using. At this time, I do not TRUST the AlohaGreen medical cannabis dispensary system. This week, AlohaGreen first BAIT-and-SWITCHED me; then appeared to cheat me on the use of my customer reward points. I wrote to management. They did not respond.
UPDATE 3.25.25: Bait & Switch Incident
About 9:40am, I received an emailed promotion from AlohaGreen. The dispensary offered Sungrown Iki nugs of The Yeti for $110. Nugs are tiny buds. Sungrown means use of electricity is reduced, thus justifying the lower price. THC levels were in the teens. Not my preferred product, but appeared worth the reduced price. Ordered online at 10:22am.
Have construction in the area so getting to AlohaGreen Waikiki was challenging. Arrived at the dispensary. Their budtender had processed my online order. Rang me up — $160. What? Showed him the promotional offer. He said he needed to get the manager.
Jennifer came out from the back. I’ve dealt with her previously on misquoted promotional offers. She said her marketing team made an error. Actual price is $160. Sorry!
I stuck to my position. AlohaGreen made an offer of $110 around 9:40am. Accepted the offer around 10:22am. Took me considerable effort to get to their dispensary. They should have called me. Would have cancelled my order. This behavior is Bait & Switch. Jennifer said she had to contact her manager.
About 20 minutes later, Jennifer returned. Said her manager agreed to an “one-time” allowance of this initial offer. Thanked Jennifer and AlohaGreen for their kindness and professional courtesy. Jennifer showed me their corrected promotional email. AlohaGreen sent that email about 12:30pm — too late for me.
Remember to hold businesses accountable. Not the fault of the consumer when a company and management makes an error. By bringing this matter to the attention of AlohaGreen, they improve their business operations and provide higher quality service to the public. We all win.
UPDATE 10.7.24: I was able to speak with TY Cheng about my concerns. He wrote, “I am sorry you feel wronged by Aloha Green. I am (sic) spoken with the team and we will review how we can improve communication to our patients. But your complaint is the first of its kind regarding our ounce specials. Patients are thankful there is an option for lab tested flower at $7.70 per gram in Hawai’i whatever the THC potency.”
AlohaGreen then ENDED or “retired” their Aloha Rewards Program. Points aren’t worth much any more: We’re reaching out to share that starting November 1st, 2024, our Aloha Rewards Program will be refreshed to offer even more ways to redeem your points! As part of this update, all current rewards will be retired on October 31st. However, your Aloha Rewards points will not expire at that date. If you prefer to redeem your points for the current rewards, you can do so through the end of October.
NOTE: How confusing!!! Read it again. Seems to be another Bait & Switch: all current rewards will be retired on October 31st. However, your Aloha Rewards points will not expire at that date. If you prefer to redeem your points for the current rewards, you can do so through the end of October. (isn’t the “end of October” the same as October 31st? TY Cheng is an attorney. LOL )
The Aloha Rewards Promotion shows the “many ways” AlohaGreen rewards long-term and loyal customers. For every dollar a Medical Patient spends, they receive approximately ONE POINT. Spend $600, for example, AlohaGreen offers 1G of SunGrown flower for $1 and 600 points. Skywalker Kush retails for $15. AlohaGreen sells the loyal customer the $15 1G flower for $1, which is a saving of $14 after spending $600 or a 2.3% reward. Now you know!
Medical Cannabis Dispensary History
Medical cannabis in Hawai’i and across the nation has an illogical and strained history. California was first to legalize — by voter referendum in 1996. Hawai’i was the second state in 2000, and first state to legalize through legislative action. As of February 2024, only 3 states (ID, KS, NE) and 1 territory (American Samoa) do not have a legal cannabis program (CDC). In August 2017, the first legal medical cannabis dispensary sale was made in Maui.
On 4.20 in 2022, assisted gubernatorial hopeful Lynn Barry Mariano (center) and Lt. Col Pete Tingstrom (left) for a “meet the candidate” campaign event at AlohaGreen Apothecary in Waikiki (below). I was a medical patient of the dispensary and had positive relations with TY Cheng, president of the operation. AlohaGreen is a licensed medical cannabis dispensary on O’ahu, Hawai’i, and currently advertises FOUR dispensaries: Waikiki, King Street, Herb House at the airport and Ko Olina.
I’ve had professional interaction with AlohaGreen directors: TY Cheng, Tasha Libarios and Wayne Wills. Know their two security guards, staff and budtenders well. Have spent $1,000s purchasing needed medication. In fact, in AlohaGreen’s July 26, 2024 newsletter, staff notified me that I had accumulated 993.35 points. Staff informed me a patient receives ONE POINT for every $0.96 spent in store, which means I recently purchased at least $1,035 of AlohaGreen product recently.
On July 26, 2024, I logged an online order for Skywalker Kush — Premium Sungrown (1oz) for $199.00. Product was advertised as Indica with 18.3% – 22.5% THC. For me, higher THC means one must smoke or inhale less. Thus, higher THC seems to be preferred for overall health. Generally, price of the product increases with higher THC.
Getting to AlohaGreen requires a trip on TheBus in O’ahu. Takes some time and planning. When I arrived, passed through security and license checks, the young budtender handed me my pre-order selection of one 28G container. As visible in the image below, THC content was 18.3% (red at right).
Asked the nice-looking, friendly young female budtender if she had 22.6% Skywalker Kush. “Yes, of course!” She walked over to their cabinet and begin pulling out 1G containers. “Only have 1G containers? Guess I’ll need 28 then,” I laughed. She then notified me the price would be higher.
BAIT-and-SWITCH
Bait-and-switch is a form of fraud used in retail sales but also employed in other contexts. The action (generally illegal) of advertising goods which are an apparent bargain, with the intention of substituting inferior or more expensive goods. In my case, the emailed promotion clearly states a range of THC up to 22.6% for 1oz at the price of $199.00. AlohaGreen had Skywalker Kush 22.6% in stock and available.
AlohaGreen refused to sell me the product as advertised … substituting an inferior product for $199.00 or offering me a more expensive priced good. I spoke with the manager on duty, Jennifer. She confirmed that AlohaGreen would not sell the 1oz Skywalker Kush 22.6% at the advertised price. She offered a $5 discount on the 1oz Skywalker Kush 18.3%. Not Aloha Spirit or helpful … had wasted the trip.
In my email to AlohaGreen president TY Cheng, I noted that he is an attorney and should be aware of the law. Wrote, “Dispensary offered me 1gr at $15 or $420 per ounce. I cannot afford such prices!” TY did not respond.
On July 31, 2024, AlohaGreen sent out another email promotion. They offered a FLASH SALE, TODAY ONLY, 1oz Wedding Cake 20.65% for $199.00. I pre-ordered the medication.
When I arrived at AlohaGreen, passed security and licensing check in, the same female budtender waited on me. Told her I was sad about the previous experience, thanked her for her courtesy, and mentioned I was aware the confusion was not her fault. We seemed to have a positive relationship.
As I completed my order, she informed me of another promotion — for $1 more and 750 points, I could get 1G of Skywalker Kush 22.6% — Premium Sungrown flower like I wanted on the previous visit. OUCH !!! 750 POINTS ???
To accumulate 750 points, I spent about $781.00 at AlohaGreen. For $1 additional dollar, she was offering me a “FREE” 1G with a listed value of $15.00 — 1.9% value. AlohaGreen’s reward program kind of sucks, doesn’t it. I wasn’t aware of any other promotional offers. Had given her $200. Keep the extra dollar, take my points … what the hell. Not much Aloha Spirit at AlohaGreen.
Two days later, AlohaGreen emailed me another promotion. As you can see below, Aloha Rewards offers “Any 3.5G Sungrown Flower for $1 and 750 points.” My friendly, young female budtender had only offered me 1G for the same conditions. Fucked again by AlohaGreen.
Complained yesterday by email, medicalcannabis@doh.hawaii.gov, to the Hawai’i Department of Health Medical Cannabis Registry about the loss of TRUST. Why not simply buy from Native Hawaiians at the beach, I asked? Going rate is $150 per OZ for sungrown flower product. They need the money, and they treat me with kindness and Aloha Spirit.
Aloha OMCCR ~
I’ve been an advocate for LEGAL medical cannabis, as well as Hawaii’s system of dispensaries. I will now advise people to BUY cannabis from Native Hawaiians at the beach. At least we can TRUST them. Native Hawaiians sell to keiki, adults, to anyone and everyone — tourists, visitors, patients and recreational users. HPD doesn’t care. Officials don’t care. Government is broken and can’t properly regulate. Thus, I worked to support the LEGAL system and dispensaries like AlohaGreen.I tend to be a FOOL and trust people; be kind to people.
AlohaGreen Bait & Switched me last week. Wrote to AlohaGreen president, TY Cheng. He didn’t care; didn’t respond. This week AlohaGreen CHEATED me on my points — giving me only 1GR for 750 points, rather than the advertised 3.5GR. I had spent about $750 and AlohaGreen cheated me and gave me only 1GR worth about $15.
The question remains: why am I supporting this regulated business of AlohaGreen when they treat patients this way? Seems they know they have a monopoly and can charge what they want, treat patients as they want, and patients have little recourse. Prices on mainland are sometimes 50% lower and THC content higher. Medical cannabis is MEDICATION … not a recreational decision.
We have a professional pharmacy where I stay. Insurance covers most of my medications. My pharmacist isn’t a young female, but a licensed professional. I can fully trust the medication she dispenses, and prices are set based on insurance plans and protocols.
There are no $1 deals or promotional point offers. AlohaGreen treats medical cannabis like a Starbucks coffee — deals for those who use more or special offers to entice the patient to buy. AlohaGreen looks and acts more like a recreational business selling BudLight or Heineken.
Why Can’t Hawai’i Legalize Recreational Cannabis?
Because Hawai’i does not legalize recreationally, non-medical cannabis users get a medical card and utilize the dispensary system. Thus, businesses like AlohaGreen run their “medical pharmacy” like a neighborhood ABC or 7/11 alcohol shop.
I was instrumental legalizing medical cannabis in New Mexico 2007; helped lay the foundation for legal recreational cannabis in the state beginning 2022. Was active working to legalize recreational cannabis in Hawai’i this past legislative session.
We put over a million hours collectively into this effort. All wasted. Former governor Linda Lingle blocked reform claiming it was “too risky,” and Japanese interests complained they didn’t like the smell.
ClearHealthLife wrote, Democrats in Hawaii CHEAT the people again, as Democratic Finance Chair Kyle Yamashita declined to hold a vote on Senate Bill 3335. Asians, many who are BEST & BRIGHTEST across mainland, cannot figure out how to legalize in Hawai’i.
SEE ALSO: Hawaii Legalizes Recreational Marihuana. 25th State in Nation. Many people in the USA, as well as Hawai’i, aren’t aware that recreational marihuana (marijuana, pot, weed or pakalolo in Hawai’i) is legal in practice in the aloha state. Professionals prefer to use the scientific label cannabis. Most Native Hawaiians use pakalolo. It’s part of their indigenous culture.
SEE ALSO: American Heart Association PROVES Cannabis Users More Healthy than General Population. Open letter to Hawai’i Governor Josh Green, MD — Cannabis-ONLY Users are MORE HEALTHY than General Population. Hawai’i is currently debating whether to legalize recreational cannabis (marihuana). The boo-birds opposed tend to be OLDER, Asian and White conservatives. They support drinking of alcohol, smoking tobacco, vaping nicotine and consuming caffeine, but continue tired and worn out stereotypes of America’s racist past.
We need to legalize cannabis for recreational users so they do not trample on medical patients and turn our “pharmacies” into pubs. AlohaGreen lost my TRUST. If you’re looking for better deals, chat with Native Hawaiians at the beach.
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