MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION BILL PASSES HOUSE

A bill legalizing, regulating, and taxing marijuana use for medicinal
and other purposes in the CNMI passed the House of Representatives
yesterday afternoon, adding to a list of revenue-generating bills
pending in the 17th Legislature.

Rep. Stanley Torres' (Ind-Saipan) House Bill 17-45 passed on a 10-7
vote with one abstention from Rep. Ray Basa (Cov-Saipan).

Two others-Reps. Ray Palacios (Cov-Saipan) and Rep. Ray Tebuteb
(R-Saipan)-were absent.

Torres' bill allows people at least 21 years old to "possess,
cultivate, or transport marijuana for personal use."

It also permits the regulation and taxation of the commercial
production and sale of marijuana to people at least 21 years old.

The bill, however, prohibits possession of marijuana on school
grounds and prohibits its use in the presence of minors.

Rep. Frank Dela Cruz (R-Saipan), one of the seven who voted "no" on
the bill, wished lawmakers had defeated the bill.

"At a time when the Commonwealth economy is on its knees, some
lawmakers wish to have its people stoned at the same time.
Unbelievable," Dela Cruz told Saipan Tribune.

Besides Dela Cruz, the others who voted "no" on the bill were floor
leader George Camacho (Ind-Saipan), Rep. Rafael Demapan (Cov-Saipan),
Rep. Tony Sablan (R-Saipan), Rep. Teresita Santos (Ind-Rota), Rep.
Edmund Villagomez (Cov-Saipan), and Rep. Ray Yumul (R-Saipan).

The 10 who approved the marijuana legalization bill included Torres,
Speaker Froilan Tenorio (Cov-Saipan), Vice Speaker Felicidad Ogumoro
(Cov-Saipan), minority leader Diego Benavente (R-Saipan), Rep. Eli
Cabrera (R-Saipan), Rep. Trenton Conner (R-Saipan), Rep. Joe Deleon
Guerrero (R-Saipan), Rep. Fred Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan), Rep.
Sylvester Iguel (Cov-Saipan), and Rep. Joe Palacios (R-Saipan).

In a cost-benefit analysis, the House Committee on Natural Resources
said the enactment of the bill into law "will possibly result in the
loss of federal funds but at the same time the Commonwealth
government will generate funds through taxation."

Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez earlier said the CNMI
Department of Public Health may lose over $10 million in federal
grants should the marijuana legalization bill becomes law.

Under federal law, marijuana remains a Schedule I drug and is illegal
to use and possess.

Villagomez said if one of the goals of legalizing marijuana is to
reap potential economic windfall with the commercialization of
marijuana cultivation and use, then the committee should commission a
study to look at similar places that have done it.

Santos, who was still the chair of the Natural Resources Committee
when the bill was first introduced and reviewed, also voted "no" on
the bill yesterday.

She said those who provided oral testimony during public hearings on
Rota on the bill "overwhelmingly opposed" the measure, but those on
Tinian "overwhelmingly supported" it." On Saipan, she said, "it was 50-50."

"The Public School System, DPH, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education
Program under the Department of Public Safety opposed the bill for
the fear of losing millions of federal funds. For this reason,
coupled with Rota's opposition, dictates my decision to also oppose
the bill, thus I voted no without any reservation," Santos told Saipan Tribune.

The committee recommended the full membership of the House to decide
on the bill, saying public sentiment during public hearings on
Saipan, Tinian and Rota have left the committee in an indeterminate state.

It said the recommendations made by concerned individuals who did not
support the original bill have been addressed in House Substitute 1.

"Concerns from the Department of Public Safety, the Public School
System, and the Department of Public Health have persuaded the
committee not to act on [the measure] but to recommend that the full
membership of the House decide upon this highly divisive bill," the
committee said.

Torres' Legalization, Regulation and Taxation of Cannabis Act of 2010
is the first legislation of its kind to be passed in the CNMI.

Torres said his bill will legalize marijuana possession and use for
medicinal purposes, which is now being done in some states and
foreign countries.

He also said by removing the legal restrictions on marijuana, the
quantity and supply of marijuana would diminish the crime and
violence associated with attempts to obtain it or protect it by use
of force and violence.