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Discussions on recreational use of marijuana urged
Longtime CNMI resident Ambrose M. Bennett is insisting that the recreational use of marijuana should also be taken up during the scheduled public hearing on Saipan tonight.
Bennett, who is also a former educator, said the hearing “is for the people to express their opinion.”
A public hearing on Senate Bill 19-06 that proposes to legalize the medical use of marijuana is scheduled today at 6pm, at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe, and will be the first of two hearings on Saipan.
The bill was proposed by Sen. Sixto Igisomar (R-Saipan) who earlier appealed to the public to focus their comments on the medicinal—and not recreational—use of marijuana at the hearing.
“If there are more people concerned about recreational use of marijuana than medical use, then you would think the senator would want to know about it—not try to keep them quiet,” Bennett said, adding that “those who want recreational use included in the bill should come and tell the senators. After all, public hearings are supposed to be about what the people want. The bill he is presenting is our (the people’s) bill and if we can’t say what we the people want in regards to marijuana then something is very wrong. Trying to control what people will say and want is not freedom of speech but an attempt to take freedom of speech away!”
“Trying to stop people from commenting on recreational use and legalization is wrong and even unfair to the people,” Bennett further said. “It is obvious that recreational use [of marijuana] is getting as much and even more attention than medical use because recreational use involves far more people than medical use.”
“I am thankful the senator started the ball rolling on this issue but it is not his ball—it’s the people’s,” Bennett added.
