Previous Story
DPS says it is neutral on marijuana bill
The Department of Public Safety has no position where it agrees or not with the marijuana legislation offered by Sen. Sixto K. Igisomar (Rep-Saipan).
When asked about DPS’ stand on the cannabis legislation, DPS spokesperson Jacqueline Rae Shepard said Friday that the department as well as many residents are just monitoring as the marijuana bill makes its way through the legislative process.
“Once a decision is reached, DPS will honor and uphold the laws set forth by our lawmakers,” Shepard said. She did not elaborate.
Igisomar’s bill legalizes the recreational and medicinal use of cannabis in the CNMI and creates the cannabis commission to regulate it.
At last week’s meeting, House of Representatives legal counsel John Cool said the intent of the bill is to regulate and legalize the recreational and medicinal use of marijuana—not to generate revenue.
This was Cool’s response to Rep. Blas Jonathan Attao’s (Ind-Saipan) question why the penalties for driving under the influence of cannabis were not omitted from the bill while fees and taxations pertaining to cannabis consumables were.
Cool also replied that the penalties were more of a deterrence rather than a revenue-generating provision.
