Statement on full legalization of marijuana in the CNMI
Editor’s Note: The following is the text of the testimony that the author presented during the public hearings on Rota on Senate Bill 19-06, a bill proposing to legalize the medical use of marijuana in the Commonwealth.
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If this bill passes as it is, the CNMI will still fail to be in compliance with our commander-in-chief’s public directive to stop locking up our youth for marijuana procession as we will still be locking up our youth under this medical marijuana bill. The medical bill will also generate rather than eliminate crime. There will be a mad rush to fraudulently acquire marijuana if legalized for medical use only, which will surely be troublesome. But full legalization will eliminate any and all marijuana fraud and crimes. We have to be careful when we try to legislate morality as the recreational use of marijuana is strictly a moral and ethical issue for educators and the church, not politicians. We should have learned as far back as Prohibition when we created the first mobsters by legislating morality on alcohol and we created the cartels more recently when we declared the War on Drugs. Making medical marijuana legal will surely create organized crime in the CNMI as there is just too much money involved and we know if they will smuggle cigarettes, there is no limit on what they will do to capture the big marijuana dollar.
I am sure by now this body is well aware that marijuana is the least addictive of all drugs on the federal list of addicting drugs, which includes alcohol and tobacco. There shouldn’t be any need for skepticism with marijuana when alcohol and tobacco have killed and are still killing people. There has never been one single death that was attributed entirely to the use of marijuana. Yes, people have died with marijuana in their system but it was something else that killed them. I would like to ask the senators a question: Would you rather ride in a car with a drunk or a person who has just smoked a joint? You don’t have to answer but I’m sure most of you would choose the marijuana driver, which reveals the norm that now exist in our society—marijuana is better and safer than alcohol.
Everyday there is more and more revealing facts and revelations that support the need and realities of legalization. The legalization of marijuana reform in America is now in its 19th year—started by California in 1996—so this is not something new! Since that time there are seven things that I wish to share which continue to push marijuana reform that is supported by the President, the U. S. Attorney General and many members of Congress. Please keep in mind that the large dollar amounts you are about to hear about are for one year so just imagine the wealth and prosperity over time.
1. $699 million in combined sales for the first year in Colorado: This fact alone should be enough proof for everyone in the CNMI to say that we must at least try to legalize marijuana for all uses.
2. $76 million in combined tax and licensing revenue for Colorado: Unlike Colorado, the moratorium I proposed to legalize-IT makes the CNMI’s marijuana industry a government operation in partnership with a private investor. The CNMI will collect 100 percent of the revenues and share only 25 percent with a private investor, which will make the CNMI more profitable than all of the existing states combined who have fully legalized-IT. The great part is the CNMI won’t have to spend a single penny to get this industry started and running if the moratorium/partnership methodology I proposed is followed.
3. Recreational marijuana comprised only 36 percent of total sales: This proves that the local people and our youth are not going to go crazy to smoke marijuana. Medical use is still the main purpose and it was visitors to Colorado who pushed the sales as their tourists industry increased revenues by $1.3 billion. Colorado is now the marijuana capital of the world in one year, taking the title from Amsterdam!
4. More than 500,000 plants were cultivated: This fact should have all the CNMI farmers and those who want to farm piling into the public hearings to promote legalization to fulfill their American dream of becoming a “self-made millionaire”.
5. 2.85 million units of edible retail products were sold: In Colorado, edible marijuana-infused retail products surpassed the sale of medical marijuana-infused products. By the end of the year, edible recreational products had totaled 2.85 million, compared to 1.96 million for the medically infused market. This means locals can start their own product lines of edibles that can be sold at the state-operated stores under the moratorium. The good and exceptional local products will even stand a good chance of becoming an exported product to Guam and the U.S. if marketed properly.
6. 99.2 percent retail homogeneity test pass rate: Of the 2,261 homogeneity tests performed at the retail licensing level, 99.2 percent passed, while 98.2 percent of the potency tests administered on edible retail products wound up passing. The key point being that legally grown marijuana appears to be adhering to strict regulatory growing standards. With the CNMI having a government-controlled operation under the moratorium, there will never be a concern for the growth and use of marijuana and marijuana products that do not meet the CNMI government’s standards.
7. 249 jurisdictions still ban marijuana: Unlike Colorado, which still has 249 jurisdictions in the state where marijuana use is still illegal leading to problems, the CNMI’s moratorium will encompass the entire CNMI. There won’t be any jurisdiction issues.
I can only hope and pray that you will leave Rota with the belief that the CNMI needs to declare a moratorium to experiment with full legalization as a government operation—a new industry for the CNMI with a potential for hundreds of millions in revenues, tourists visitors in the millions, hundreds and even thousands of good paying jobs created over time, and new local businesses producing marijuana drinks and edibles. The CNMI can find a great deal of prosperity with the full legalization of marijuana and I’m asking you senators to at least give the people a chance to experiment with full legalization.
Ambrose Bennett is a former teacher and an advocate for the full legalization of marijuana in the Commonwealth.
“Would you rather ride in a car with a drunk or a person who has just smoked a joint? ”
Sir, both predicaments above endanger the lives of the people in our community. Many states don’t tolerate driving under the influence of any drugs,
FYI, when a bill is routed to a committee, the bill would be shelve for a long period of time and the bill above is not exempt from such tactics.
Buenas,
Ambrose’s Moratorium states that marijuana will be consumed in public places. That driving under the influence should be tolerated. That only Rota, Tinian and N. Islands will cultivate and not Saipan. That it will do this, and it will do that,etc…His plan is not realistically pragmatic, but great wishful thinking however. He is entitled to his imagination. His plan is like having a drunk pilot flying a plane…sure to fail. The effort for the pilot to show up for work is noted, but with a disastrous effect.
Ambrose stated: “Recreational marijuana comprised only 36 percent of total sales: This proves that…Medical use is still the main purpose and it was visitors to Colorado who pushed the sales as their tourists industry increased revenues by $1.3 billion.”
He just proved that medical marijuana is of more importance than recreational use. Thanks. Although the current senate bill’s intent is focused on the medical issue of medical marijuana and has nothing to do with your recreational plan.
As to the kids being locked up, it is because of zero-tolerance policies being enforced at schools and that possession of any illicit drug will warrant disciplinary actions. The key is to educate the kids on the harms and consequences regarding drugs so they may have the information to make better and informed decisions regarding their actions. As an educator, you should know this.
As to the dumbfounding question of a choice to ride with a person under the influence of any drug, the answer is a loud and deafening NO! to riding in a car with an impaired driver at all times.
An ignorant plan with ignorant effect. Someone please give him some primo-grade marijuana so he will think better as to the strain he is smoking seems to cloud his better judgement. Up in smoke!
Again Mr. B, you cannot compare the US mainland MJ income and use to the projected income in the NMI. There is and won’t be the consumer base to generate such income.
Also even as you stated, the increased in underground unregulated market will be increased regardless if it is only for medical use or just opened up for recreational use. This in itself will increase the cost within our resources and very well may negate any small profit gained by any legal sales.
This will in fact be due to the increase in prices of MJ compared to the now present “underground’ prices, due to the licensing fees and added taxes.
This has happened in the US mainland (according to news items) and also left many legal growers with a large stock that they cannot sell.
Also Colorado is introducing legislation on repealing the MJ law due to many detrimental factors. The Gov. has publicly stated that if he had to do it again he would not have signed the law.
BTW I have to give you credit on your perseverance on this issue, no matter what side of the coin many are on.
The problem is that since these hearings were for “Medical use” you should have stuck to supporting that first instead of jumping across the proposed bill and pushing for a lifting on the total ban.on MJ. (As they did on Guam and elsewhere for medical use first)
Well said Captain. I truly hope he understands and heeds the advice on sticking to the topic instead of making a fool of himself.
Hafa adai Jun,
Please take note that Ambrose has the freedom of speech to speak and say whatever he pleases, even if it has nothing to do with the specified topic which is medical marijuana. If no one can see this from happening, it only goes to show how narrow-minded some people are in letting some person who has nothing to do with this bill circumvent political will at his own will. We are pushing and supporting the medical issue. Ambrose is pushing a recreational issue. It is as simple as that to see, as he is shouting RECREATIONAL LEGALIZATION at every chance he gets. We are smarter than that to be made fools of, don’t you think?