Groups split on marijuana legalization
Newly formed group Sensible CNMI and the Saipan Chamber of Commerce have expressed different views on Senate Bill 19-106, a proposed Act to Regulate Marijuana in the CNMI, which aims for personal use and decriminalization of the drug that is also used for medicinal purposes.
While Sensible CNMI has thrown its support for the bill of Sen. Sixto K. Igisomar (R-Saipan), the chamber did a U-turn after at first backing the measure.
The Chamber, last September, withdrew its support of Igisomar’s bill after backing the measure in August. In an email to the media, the Chamber said they decided to pull its support for the bill based on some provisions that are unsatisfactory.
“After further review of the legislation, it was determined by the board of directors that provisions in this legislation are not to our satisfaction. We retract our prior letter on Senate Bill 19-106,” the Chamber stated.
Prior to withdrawing its support, the Chamber’s Governmental Relations Committee believes “the intent of SB 19-106 is to put the issue on the ballot for the people to decide [and] the democratic process should be upheld, especially in a matter as potentially controversial as this.”
The committee, in its letter of support, added that if the bill becomes law, it would have a positive effect on the CNMI’s economy as additional tax revenue, much like in Oregon, Washington, and Colorado.
On the other hand, Sensible CNMI co-founder Lawrence Duponcheel said they see a lot of positive effects in regulating and taxing marijuana use in the Commonwealth. “Support for approving the responsible adult use of marijuana continues to grow as more and more states experience the overwhelmingly positive benefits of regulating and taxing marijuana.”
“[This] include ensuring that medical patients have legal protection and access to their medicine, reductions in youth marijuana usage rates, as much as a 24-percent reduction in accidental overdoses by prescription medications, reductions in government spending, and substantial increases in government revenues.”
Duponcheel said they would continue to work with various sectors of the community to improve SB 19-106. “[We] will continue to work with local leaders, professionals, and advocacy groups to strengthen and improve the Commonwealth Marijuana Regulation Act…with the goal of reintroducing the proposed legislation as a legislatively-referred ballot measure that aims to allow the CNMI voters to consider the bill in the 2018 election. The proposed bill would legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults 21 and older for medical, personal, and industrial purposes.”
Marijuana consumers deserve and demand equal rights and protections under our laws that are currently afforded to the drinkers of far more dangerous and deadly, yet perfectly legal, widely accepted, endlessly advertised and glorified as a national pastime, booze.
Plain and simple!
Legalize Marijuana Nationwide!
There is absolutely no doubt now that the majority of the people want to completely legalize marijuana nationwide. Our numbers grow on a daily basis.
The prohibitionist view on marijuana is the viewpoint of a minority and rapidly shrinking percentage of citizens. It is based upon decades of lies and propaganda.
Each and every tired old lie they have propagated has been thoroughly proven false by both science and society.
Their tired old rhetoric no longer holds any validity. The vast majority of people have seen through the sham of marijuana prohibition in this day and age. The number of prohibitionists left shrinks on a daily basis.
With their credibility shattered, and their not so hidden agendas visible to a much wiser public, what’s left for a marijuana prohibitionist to do?
Maybe, just come to terms with the fact that Marijuana Legalization Nationwide is an inevitable reality that’s approaching much sooner than prohibitionists think, and there is nothing they can do to stop it!
Legalize Nationwide!…and Support All Marijuana Legalization Efforts!
I won’t support it if they intend to regulate it. Just decriminalize it with no strings attached.
Bull.
Nothing but very desperate anti-marijuana prohibitionist propaganda which doesn’t fool nor convince anybody.
The vast majority of Coloradoan support marijuana legalization. Just like the rest of the country.
44 medical states: 29 including Guam aand Puerto Rico for comprehensive laws and 15 states with CBD-only laws.
There is some talk of repealing Colorado MJ law but it will not go through
as most Coloradans favor the benefits of legalization from every sector. The most that can be done in regards to repeal is to prohibit establishments on a municipal level, but not state-wide. This means some counties will still reap the rewards of legalization. FYI. the recent California recreational law says that counties that forbid the marijuana establishments from operating will not receive any revenues generated from mj industry as it will be unfair to the other counties that support the mj establishments. They had a checks and balance safety clause that Cali voters understood aand voted for.
44 medical states: 29 including Guam and Puerto Rico for comprehensive laws and 15 states with CBD-only laws.
There is some talk of repealing Colorado MJ law but it will not go through
as most Coloradans favor the benefits of legalization from every sector. The most that can be done in regards to repeal is to prohibit establishments on a municipal level, but not state-wide. This means some counties will still reap the rewards of legalization. FYI. the recent California recreational law says that counties that forbid the marijuana establishments from operating will not receive any revenues generated from mj industry as it will be unfair to the other counties that support the mj establishments. They had a checks and balance safety clause that Cali voters understood aand voted for.
“SECTION 7 MARIJUANA TAX.”
Part 14.5 (commencing with Section 34010) is added to Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, to read:
Part 14.5. Marijuana Tax
34019.
“The Board shall not make any grants to local governments which have banned the cultivation, including personal cultivation under Section 11362.2(b)(3) of the Health and Safety Code, or retail sale of marijuana or marijuana products pursuant to Section 26200 of the Business and Professions Code or as otherwise provided by law.”
California’s “Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act, No. 15-0103.” Aka: Prop 64.
It’s a beautiful bill isn’t it? Just wait until you see the CNMI’s. Biba.
Cali mj law also encourages and supports small scale local grow ops by prohibiting large scale operations over 10k square feet of grow space for the first five years upon effect. That is what you call, ‘keep it local’. The new CNMI bill will have a similar section.
Hi Brian,
What I meant by no strings attached is just that. No laws against growing, selling and purchasing. If some young enterprising lad is making a killing selling pot, so what? I say good for him. At least he is not stealing to support his ice addiction. Treat pot like an agricultural crop. If you make more than 20K selling age crops, then you’re supposed to pay taxes on it.
Thank you for the clarification.
BTW, (I only glanced through this)
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/news/a51032/jeff-sessions-marijuana/
“Please be patient. Sensible CNMI is currently drafting a bill to be
introduced in the next legislative session, 2017 that “…would
legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults 21 and older for
medical, personal, and industrial purposes.” The main goal is to
liberate marijuana users, 21 and over, by making sure they have safe and
accessible marijuana without fear of arrest. Revenue generation is only
secondary.”
I personally would assure you that we would have a say on your purpose bill and we would attempt to make sure it would not see any day light in the senate.
Do not underestimate, Jun. Times have changed. It would be fruitful if you state your true intention of going against the bill. There is always a way…Remember that my friend.
Buenas che’lu. There is no turning back, brother. Legalization is inevitable. The People will decide. It has already begun.
we have the right to vote on it, weather you like it or not and keep personal opinion to yourself, don’t try to dictate what people want and need. and as you like to say “be nice”, try practicing it.
Be nice chelu, it is healthy to discuss issues affecting us and I am not trying to dictate anything. I do have concerns about how things are done at the hill.
what happens on the hill, i have longed wash my hands of them, my only concern is this bill be passed so the public can vote on it, period.
As long as it is illegal, the choice gets risky which is why we support legalization. I know the new draft will be very favorable for all, including the middle-man and small growers and not the connected few you mention. Matter of fact, I heard the new bill may be used as a model for other U.S. states’ proposals. You can take Cali if you want. We want the CNMI and the rest of the Pacific. When the new bill gets filed in 2017, then please critique after your review.
If that is the case, it would be a win win situation for the people of the CNMI.
Sorry for the misunderstanding, I have the inside info. at the legislature and how things are done up there. The captain was right, nothing would be done with such bill at the hill and best route it via the people to put it on the ballot. I do not support a bill that would benefit the connected and the few and I assure you that I may or can influence a vote at the senate to go against such bill if that is the case.
FYI, I am allergic to any type of smoke, especially the ones that make an individual fly.
that’s my point, have the people vote on it, plain and simple. i’m not into selling, im into just smoking it rather than drink alcohol.
Yes, that was my point from the beginning and it needs to be address. I am in Stockton for the next several weeks, researching and visiting the medical dispensaries in the area. And I was amazed to the quality what they have to sell. We would be putting together a proposal to have a retail store relating to the California Prop. 64 with our partners and that would be another license besides being distributors or growers in the Central Valley. As I always say, nothing is guarantee in life and you tend not to get what you want. But being persistent would get you far ahead in life.
Good luck on your Cali objective. As for the CNMI, the People will get their chance to vote come 2018. It’s about high time to be greener. Biba!
4 states legalized. And we are just a tiny spec of dust on the globe and we still can’t come to terms on wether or not to legalize or decriminalize marijuana. So so SAD…:(((
Marijuana should be made available, regulated and taxed. There’s a lot of money to be made for all concerned, and people are smoking it anyway. The REAL dangers in the CNMI are ice and alcohol, not pot.
Plus, DPS resources would be better placed elsewhere, such as safeguarding homes, businesses and the tourists.