Attao awaits Cannabis Committee report

House Speaker Blas Jonathan T. Attao (R-Saipan) looks forward to the final report of the House Cannabis Committee regarding House Bill 21-13, which would amend the original law that allowed the use of marijuana in the Commonwealth.

Attao said the members of the Cannabis Committee are already back on the island after attending a cannabis conference. It is led by chair Rep. Janet U. Maratita (R-Saipan) and vice chair Rep. Joseph Leepan T. Guerrero (R-Saipan).

“There’s already a draft report. They [committee] are just finalizing [it], so that it can be put in place as the [CNMI Cannabis] commission is still trying to get themselves organized,” said Attao.

He added that the House Cannabis Committee would incorporate any additional information they may have gathered at the conference.

Although the five-member Cannabis Commission have already been named, it is still illegal to cultivate and use cannabis in the CNMI until the commissioners officially take their oath of office and get themselves organized.

Public Law 20-6, also called the Taulamwaar Sensible CNMI Cannabis Act of 2018, regulates and controls the use of cannabis-based products in the CNMI.

Attao is hoping the amendment bill would finally address all the line-items that Gov. Ralph DLG Torres vetoed when he signed P.L. 20-66 into law last year.

“If there’s going to be a bill that would generate revenue for the government, it will be for the entire CNMI government. We’re working on revenue-generating legislations that’s going to be beneficial to the CNMI,” said Attao. “We’re here to find ways to improve the livelihood of our people, not our own personal lives. The cannabis amendment bill can be a source of revenue for the government.”

He added that Rep. Marco T. Peter (R-Saipan) also has knowledge about cannabis-based products like hemp because he saw how it was with his father, the late David “Taulamwaar” Peter.

“He [Rep. Peter] has a little bit of knowledge regarding hemp that’s also in the family cannabis plant. He lived in Washington [state] for many years, he has a little bit of background and knowledge.”

Attao said that President Donald Trump has already removed hemp from the list of Schedule 1 substances that are illegal. Industrial hemp cultivation is now legal in all U.S. jurisdictions after Trump signed the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 last December. “So, we might have to remove hemp in the actual legislation.” (Jon Perez)