KHS principal, PSS chief mum on space brownie incident

Kagman High School principal Leila Staffler and interim Education commissioner Glenn Muňa both chose to keep mum about an alleged cannabis incident at Kagman High School last week.

Staffler did confirm with Saipan Tribune rumors of a student lacing brownies with cannabis but declined to disclose additional information.

“…Yes, there is a confirmed incident at KHS, but the case is still an active case. If you have any questions please check with [the Department of Public Safety], as we do not want to jeopardize the ongoing investigation,” she told Saipan Tribune in an email.

She also declined to provide additional information over the phone yesterday, citing the DPS investigation.

In an interview over the weekend, Muña reminded Public School System employees that cannabis use, although nearing complete legalization in the CNMI, remains prohibited under PSS rules.

Muña noted that PSS is taking a “proactive approach” to educate staff about the unique situation of cannabis in the CNMI.

“We are reaching out to our staff, educating that, although it may be legal to consume, the workplace prohibits that. Right now, the regulations have not changed and we can still uphold those regulations,” he said, adding that it is the “same thing for students.”

Muña noted that consequences for students are on a case-by-case basis. He specifically noted that it is dependent on how much pot is found with the student.

“First and foremost [PSS] would refer [the student] to law enforcement because it is against PSS regulations and it is a controlled substance that cannot be brought into schools,” he said.

Although Gov. Ralph DLG Torres last Sept. 21, 2018 signed into law the Taulamwaar Sensible CNMI Cannabis Act of 2018, cannabis consumption is not instantaneously legal.

Torres, in a previous interview with Saipan Tribune, noted that it would take about seven months to set up the five-member Cannabis Commission members and the regulations on the oversight of the substance, which remains a Schedule I drug under the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Cannabis is still illegal in federal eyes.

Upon the creation and promulgation of the regulations on cannabis, it would take effect 10 days after its adoption and publication in the Commonwealth Register.