House creates cannabis committee

The Republican Party leadership in the House of Representatives has created a cannabis committee that would handle any marijuana-related legislation arising from Public Law 20-66 or the Taulamwaar Sensible Cannabis Act of 2018.

P.L. 20-66, enacted into law by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres on Sept. 21, legalizes and controls cannabis use in the CNMI. The new law is being looked at as a springboard for a possible new cannabis industry in the CNMI.

The incoming House speaker, Rep. Blas Jonathan T. Attao, said they have to first clarify and finalize the rules for all of the 10 committees in the 21st Legislature. “The ad hoc committee would make the proper definition for whatever motions are needed and can be made during sessions.”

“[The cannabis committee] is for consideration because of the forthcoming legislation that we’re looking at about the commission. It will be a full-time kind like the [Commonwealth] Casino Commission. There’s a new industry that we’re going to explore and I don’t think two hours every two months is going to justify the regulations that they are going to put forth.”

Attao is not open to suggestions to merge the cannabis committee with other existing committees, like the gaming committee.

“We can merge it with Gaming but it might be too big of an animal, too big of a responsibility. There’s still a lot of work to do, with the [Cannabis Commission] commissioners given 180 days to organize themselves,” said Attao.

“We create a committee and one of the chairs would be able to chair two [committees]. Take Ways and Means, where every chair of the other committees are members. On top of that, Rota and Tinian needs to be represented.”

He also shared the idea of having vice speaker Janet U. Maratita chair the cannabis committee after the majority’s caucus had already chosen the heads of the nine other committees. “I did share it with [Maratita].” “…But I cannot speak for her because she has to decide on her own. We’re going respect her decision, whatever it may be.”

The other committee chairs in the incoming legislature are Reps. Joseph Leepan T. Guerrero (Commerce and Tourism), Roman C. Benavente (Education), L.J. Castro (Federal and Foreign Affairs), Ralph Yumul (Gaming), Jose Itibus (Health and Social Services), Joel Camacho (Judicial and Governmental Operations), Antonio Borja of Tinian (Natural Resources), Francisco Dela Cruz (Public Utilities, Transportation, and Communication), and Ivan Blanco (Ways and Means).

Rep. Lorenzo I. Deleon Guerrero will be the vice speaker in the 21st Legislature. Rep. John Paul P. Sablan will be the floor leader.

The speaker, vice speaker, and the floor leader cannot chair any committee. The vice speaker and floor leader, however, can be a member of any of the committees.