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TO COUNTER LEGALIZATION EFFORTS DPH to launch campaign against use of marijuana
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Posted on Aug 06 1999
Amid the current campaign to legalize the use of marijuana in the CNMI, Public Health Secretary Joe Villagomez has ordered the Division of Mental Health and Services to revive efforts in educating the people about its negative effects.
Villagomez, who was former director of the division, said the group seeking the legalization of marijuana does not fully understand the damage it can create on a person’s brain.
“Marijuana should not and cannot have a place in this community simply because it will destroy the future of the Commonwealth,” he said.
Allowing the use of marijuana on the island will contribute to the breakdown of more families in the CNMI, which is already struggling against the rampant use of “ice”.
“It is a mood altering drug with its hallucinogenic properties. How can you become a productive member of the community when you are not in touch with reality?” said Villagomez.
Currently, a huge chunk of the funding on medical referral is spent on the treatment of patients who use illegal drugs, alcohol and nicotine, he said. The use of marijuana will only contribute to the growing social problems such as increase in crime rate and wife beating.
To those who advocate the use of marijuana, Villagomez has this piece of advice: There are more critical issues that the Commonwealth is facing. We will remain very strong against this issue.
The group seeking the legalization of marijuana is pushing for the establishment of the Commonwealth Cannabis Tax Act, which replaces all existing laws dealing with the cannabis plant with a system that fairly taxes, regulates and controls its use.
It claims the system can generate millions of revenues for the cash-strapped government or even 20 percent of the total budget.
A petition now being distributed on the island claims that cannabis hemp does not cause social ills. On the contrary, prohibiting its use deprives the government of the economic benefits that a regulated cannabis industry could provide, the group claimed.
Based on the petition, a Cannabis Control Commission shall be created composed of five members appointed by the governor who will be tasked to draft rules and regulations in connection with its use.
