Previous Story
Cannabis amendment heads to Torres
|
Posted on Aug 06 2019
Cannabis legalization inches toward reality after the House of Representatives accepted last Friday the Senate changes to a bill that amends the law that created the Commonwealth Cannabis Commission.
With a vote of 14-4 in favor of accepting the Senate changes to Rep. John Paul Sablan’s (R-Saipan) House Bill 21-13, HD1, SS1, the bill now heads to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ desk for enactment.
The bill grants the cannabis commission the authority to promulgate regulations to regulate the cannabis industry.
“It has been six months since I initially introduced it to the House. We are glad that…it’s on its way to the [Torres] administration’s office,” Sablan said in an interview.
The bill, when signed, gives the cannabis commissioners six months to come up with regulations for the industry.
The commission representatives—Matt Deleon Guerrero, Nadine Deleon Guerrero, Valentino Taisakan, Lawrence Duponcheel, and Thomas Songsong—consist of three representing Saipan and one each for Rota and Tinian.
“Once they [cannabis commission] hit that gavel, that is when the clock starts ticking,” Sablan said. “…But nothing stops the commission from promulgating rules before six months.”
Sablan encourages the commission to “take their time” when it comes to coming up with the regulations.
“This is, for me, a big [undertaking]. I know that…after the promulgation of rules and it gets in the [Commonwealth] Register, everything starts. …I expect the commissioners to [be] very thorough and to make the best rules and regulations they can,” he said. “I am hoping in the near future that, when everything is done, we realize an increase in tourists, ultimately benefitting our Commonwealth.”
