Supporters of a bill to legalize marijuana use in the CNMI said that decriminalizing the weed would be beneficial for the Commonwealth since a new industry would come out once the prohibition is lifted.<\/p>\n
Dr. John Doyle, an internal medicine physician at the Commonwealth Health Center and private clinic Marianas Medical Center; community member Matthew Borja; and Gerry Hemley, of pro-marijuana group Sensible CNMI, each outlined the benefits for the CNMI if Senate Bill 20-62, which would allow medicinal and recreational use of marijuana, is enacted.<\/p>\n
Jim Rayphand gave comments on a personal capacity and not as the director of the Northern Marianas Protection and Advocacy Systems Inc.<\/p>\n
Speaking before the House Judiciary and Governmental Operations committee on Tuesday, Helmey said that S.B. 20-62 has the potential to create a new industry in the CNMI.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you legalize it, it would benefit the CNMI economically through the taxes that would come from it. Doing this will do many things, economically, medically, and socially. It covers a lot, creating a new industry,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Doyle, meanwhile, said it would provide patients with access to a cheaper alternative to expensive medicines and can be grown in one\u2019s backyard. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe actually have Dronabinol, a pharmaceutical-grade medicine that is pure [tetrahydrocannabinol] or the extract from the [cannabis] plant. That medicine is available for us and is no different in form and function from the actual marijuana plant. We tried it but, unless you have $3,000 a month to pay, you can\u2019t take the medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n
It makes no sense, therefore, that marijuana, a medicinal plant, can get you into trouble, he said. \u201cPharmaceutical companies can charge you $3,000 a month to have access to a plant that you can grow in your own backyard but you could go to prison for 10 years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Doyle said that states and other jurisdictions that have legalized marijuana have seen a significant drop in opioid deaths and methamphetamine use. \u201cEvery state that legalized marijuana\u2014medicinal or recreational use\u2014has seen a 30-percent across-the-board drop in opioid deaths. Meth users also dropped from 20 to 25 percent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Borja said cannabis could not be compared to a drug or alcohol. \u201cIt is more than that; it\u2019s a medicine. If you were to sell anything that makes people better, it has to be organic, not synthetic.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI truly believe that this would be beneficial. It is sad to see that it\u2019s taking us so long,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Rayphand said legalizing marijuana use would have a big impact on the CNMI. \u201cSee the difference of paying $3,000 to something that you could grow in your own backyard.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Senate, in their last session, passed S.B. 20-62\u2014introduced by Sen. Sixto K. Igisomar (R-Saipan). House Speaker Rafael Demapan (R-Saipan), in their last session on Tinian on May 22, told JGO chair Rep. Ivan Blanco (R-Saipan) to prioritize the bill.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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