State officials are urging Hawaii dispensaries to use a cashless system for medical marijuana sales to prevent crimes targeting cannabis retailers and their customers.

A Colorado credit union has opened accounts for the two dispensaries currently operating on Oahu and Maui and will service all eight licensees by Oct. 1, Gov. David Ige said at a news conference today.

Most financial institution have refused to work with medical marijuana dispensaries because the drug is still illegal under federal law and the banks are regulated by federal law.

The state hopes the move will help to legitimize the fledgling industry.