Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano signed into law a measure that would allow for possession and use of marijuana for medical purposes. "I'm glad to see this bill before me," he said. "My own feeling is more states are going to come on [with similar laws]."

While seven other U.S. states passed medical marijuana laws through ballot initiatives, Hawaii is the first state to do so through legislation. Hawaii's law allows patients with certain qualifying illnesses to obtain a doctor's recommendation to use medical marijuana. The law also requires medical marijuana patients to register with the state Department of Public Safety to avoid criminal prosecution under state law.

"It will allow patients who have been using marijuana to do so without fear of prosecution," said Donald Topping of the advocacy group Drug Policy Forum. "There are an estimated 1,000 people in Hawaii who will be eligible to use medical marijuana, although the exact number is hard to discern because some people keep quiet about their use."

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