Bad weather cancels marijuana public hearing

Santos

Sen. Teresita Santos (R-Rota) was forced to cancel today’s scheduled joint public hearing on Tinian for Senate Bill 19-106 or the act to regulate marijuana use in the CNMI due to bad weather. Sen. Sixto K. Igisomar (R-Saipan) pre-filed the bill last month.

Heavy monsoon rain has been battering the islands for more than a week now causing flooding in some areas. Saipan has also been experiencing strong winds brought by the monsoon flow. The past week also saw tropical storms Conson and Chanthu passing Saipan.

“[Today’s] joint public hearing on Tinian is cancelled due to inclement weather conditions. The weather condition makes it difficult to travel,” said Santos in a text message to the Saipan Tribune.

Santos is the Senate Health and Welfare Committee chair with Rep. Felicidad T. Ogumoro (R-Saipan) her counterpart in the House. Ogumoro is also the House Education Committee chairperson, and the Ways and Means Committee vice chair.

The joint public hearing, the first of three to get the pulse of ordinary folks on Tinian, was set at 6pm at the Tinian Courthouse. Separate hearings will also be held on Saipan and Rota.

Santos said the joint committee would reschedule the public hearing. “SB 19-106 has not got out to the general public for any public hearings since it was recently pre-filed and introduced.”

“We’re going to announce the new schedule as soon as the weather permits and if there’s no conflict with other committee meetings or session call,” she added.

Tinian and Aguiguan Mayor Joey Patrick San Nicolas, their municipal council members, all agency heads, resident department heads, private and public school principals, and the general public are requested to attend the hearing.

Santos and Ogumoro are still accepting written comments on the pre-filed bill, while oral testimony will be heard during the public hearing. Igisomar’s bill aims to help the CNMI’s need for access to medical marijuana.

Igisomar is pushing to allow the people of the CNMI access for medicinal, personal, and commercial use of marijuana. He was hoping it would become a law so it could have been included in the ballot in this year’s midterm elections.

SB 19-106 first needs to become law first before it could be included in a referendum. But the Senate no longer has a chance to discuss it in their sessions with various committees either holding budget or public hearings.

Marijuana allegedly treats glaucoma, epilepsy, chronic pain, muscle spasms, and reduce nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, and improve the appetite of people with HIV/AIDS. The use of cannabis is legal in Washington D.C., Guam, and more than 20 other U.S. states.