NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Queen & Harry answer Obamas’ Invictus Games challenge

LONDON

It helps to have friends in high places when you’re promoting an athletic event.

That’s certainly the case for Prince Harry, who released a video Friday promoting the upcoming Invictus Games for wounded veterans. The cast includes his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, as well as Barack and Michelle Obama, whom Harry and his brother, Prince William, had over for dinner last week in London.

The video starts with Harry and the queen looking at an Invictus brochure when they get a video phone message from Mrs. Obama. It shows the Obamas accepting Harry’s challenge to the Invictus Games, with a man in uniform behind them saying “Boom!”

The queen, bemused by the Americans, says, “Oh really? Please.” Harry then says “Boom!” with a wicked grin.

Hawaii awards licenses for medical pot but not to actor

HONOLULU

Hawaii awarded eight licenses Friday for medical marijuana dispensaries – but not to Woody Harrelson.

The actor was among nearly 60 Hawaii residents who applied in January to open the state’s first medical marijuana dispensaries.

Dispensary applicants were required to have $1 million cash, plus $100,000 for each dispensary location. The Hawaii Department of Health, which awarded the licenses, must inspect facilities before they can open as early as July 15.

The law allows medical-marijuana businesses to have two production centers and two retail dispensaries, for a total of 16 dispensaries statewide.

Hawaii became the first state to legalize medical marijuana through the legislative process 16 years ago. Under a law passed in 2015, the state could grant eight licenses.

Associated Press