The Mariana Islands consider legalizing cannabis

To date, 8 U.S. states and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis in the United States. Of Many other countries are considering this, but that overlooks the unincorporated U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico and the Mariana Islands.

The Mariana Islands, located in the northwestern Pacific, east of the Philippines, consist of two separate U.S. territories: the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.

The Northern Mariana Islands are currently considering the legalization of recreational cannabis. The current bill, which underwent its first reading before the Judicial, Governmental, and Legislative Committee on Tuesday, will not legalize cannabis as such, but proposes to put the issue on the ballot for the upcoming referendum in November. The 18,000 voters will then be able to decide whether or not to legalize cannabis.

3 hearings are still expected this month on the issue (October 17, 19, and 27). The Senate must then approve the measure, and the governor must sign it into law. The date of the Senate vote has not yet been set.

A similar measure had already been proposed last year. At that time, the Senate did not adopt the proposal. Since then, four more states have legalized cannabis, so support for the measure could be stronger.

Under the proposal, adults over the age of 21 would be allowed to legally possess 112 grams (4 ounces) of cannabis, as well as additional quantities of cannabis products and extracts. Home cultivation of 12 flowering plants and 24 vegetative plants would be permitted, and medical patients would be allowed to grow even more with a doctor’s certificate.

A Cannabis Commission would be established to regulate and license industry participants. The first licenses could be issued as early as July 2019.

As for Guam, the latest news dates back to January 2017. The governor himself drafted the bill to end the ban on U.S. territory.

«In the interest of promoting the effective use of law enforcement, increasing government revenue, and protecting individual freedoms, the use of cannabis should be legal for people aged 21 and older, and the production and sale of cannabis should be regulated and taxed,» the draft bill stated. posted on Facebook.