Governor signs legalizing marijuana bill

[ad_1]
<div _ngcontent-c15 = "" innerhtml = "

With the signing of a governor Friday, the last place to legalize marijuana in the United States is not a state. It is the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) – a tiny Pacific territory with just over 50,000 inhabitants.

Under the new law signed by Governor Ralph Torres (R), adults over the age of 21 may legally own up to one ounce of marijuana, as well as infused products and extracts. Regulators will issue licenses for cannabis producers, testing facilities, processors, retailers, wholesalers and salons. Domestic cultivation of a small number of plants will be allowed.

The CNMI is the first place in the United States to launch a commercial system of cannabis legalization through an act of lawmakers – as opposed to voters having a voting initiative. Vermont legislators have passed a bill to end the marijuana prohibition this year, but it only allows home ownership and cultivation, not legal sales.

The territory is also the first jurisdiction in the United States to no longer have cannabis totally illegal to allow recreational use without first having a medical marijuana program.

"I am proud of the leadership of CNMI, the citizens and national organizations who have worked together to formally develop and approve a progressive bill that will improve the quality of life for many people," said Lawerence J. Duponcheel. co-founder of the defense group Sensible CNMI, said. "Together, we are telling the world that we do not believe our citizens should be stigmatized and criminalized for the responsible use of cannabis by adults and that they should no longer be denied access to this life-saving drug. . "

After a series of back and forth between the CNMI House and the Senate earlier this year, lawmakers finally sent the cannabis law to the Torres office last month.

It was unclear whether the governor would sign or veto the legislation because he had already expressed concerns about the public safety implications of legalizing marijuana.

But in the end, Torres decided to hold a signing ceremony to highlight his decision to implement the ambitious cannabis reform.

"Today, our people have made history and we have taken a stand to legalize marijuana at the CNMI for recreational, medical and commercial purposes," he said in a statement.

Proponents of legalization hope that the move of the small territory will have great implications for the rest of the country.

"This is the first law enacted in the United States that imposes and regulates marijuana for use by adults, but it will be far from the last," said Karen O. Keefe, director of government policies of the project. "New Jersey could follow in the coming weeks and up to five other legislatures could do so in the coming year." Public support for the legalization of marijuana is strong and growing and elected officials are getting more and more the message."

Other advocates believe that the growing momentum will put pressure on the federal government to modernize its approach to cannabis.

"The leadership and common sense expressed by CNMI's elected officials is a new crack in the prohibition wall," said NORML Political Director Justin Strekal. "It is time for Congress to take note of this new historic event and propose that states and territories define their own policies by removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act.

Voters from several states will consider marijuana issues in November. Michigan and North Dakota, for example, have adopted recreational legalization measures on their ballots, while Missouri and Utah will decide on medical cannabis proposals.

Meanwhile, Torres and other officials will get down to business by appointing a regulatory commission to implement CNMI's new law of legalization. And he wants lawmakers to adopt a separate law of support to "strengthen this bill for the public safety and public health of our community," he said in his signing statement.

The follow-up proposal is likely to focus on tax rates and tax rates on cannabis, said Sensitive CNMI's Gerry Palacios Hemley.

">

With the signing of a governor Friday, the last place to legalize marijuana in the United States is not a state. It is the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) – a tiny Pacific territory with just over 50,000 inhabitants.

Under the new law signed by Governor Ralph Torres (R), adults over the age of 21 may legally own up to one ounce of marijuana, as well as infused products and extracts. Regulators will issue licenses for cannabis producers, testing facilities, processors, retailers, wholesalers and salons. Domestic cultivation of a small number of plants will be allowed.

The CNMI is the first place in the United States to launch a commercial system of cannabis legalization through an act of lawmakers – as opposed to voters having a voting initiative. Vermont legislators have passed a bill to end the marijuana prohibition this year, but it only allows home ownership and cultivation, not legal sales.

The territory is also the first jurisdiction in the United States to no longer have cannabis totally illegal to allow recreational use without first having a medical marijuana program.

"I am proud of the leadership of CNMI, the citizens and national organizations who have worked together to formally develop and approve a progressive bill that will improve the quality of life for many people," said Lawerence J. Duponcheel. co-founder of the defense group Sensible CNMI, said. "Together, we are telling the world that we do not believe our citizens should be stigmatized and criminalized for the responsible use of cannabis by adults and that they should no longer be denied access to this life-saving drug. . "

After a series of back and forth between the CNMI House and the Senate earlier this year, lawmakers finally sent the cannabis law to the Torres office last month.

It was unclear whether the governor would sign or veto the legislation because he had already expressed concerns about the public safety implications of legalizing marijuana.

But in the end, Torres decided to hold a signing ceremony to highlight his decision to implement the ambitious cannabis reform.

"Today, our people have made history and we have taken a stand to legalize marijuana at the CNMI for recreational, medical and commercial purposes," he said in a statement.

Proponents of legalization hope that the move of the small territory will have great implications for the rest of the country.

"This is the first law enacted in the United States that imposes and regulates marijuana for use by adults, but it will be far from the last," said Karen O. Keefe, director of government policies of the project. "New Jersey could follow in the coming weeks and up to five other legislatures could do so in the coming year." Public support for the legalization of marijuana is strong and growing and elected officials are getting more and more the message."

Other advocates believe that increasing momentum will put pressure on the federal government to modernize its approach to cannabis.

"The leadership and common sense expressed by CNMI's elected officials is a new crack in the prohibition wall," said NORML Political Director Justin Strekal. "It is time for Congress to take note of this new historic event and propose that states and territories define their own policies by removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act.

Voters from several states will consider marijuana issues in November. Michigan and North Dakota, for example, have adopted recreational legalization measures on their ballots, while Missouri and Utah will decide on medical cannabis proposals.

Meanwhile, Torres and other officials will get down to business by appointing a regulatory commission to implement CNMI's new law of legalization. And he wants lawmakers to adopt a separate law of support to "strengthen this bill for the public safety and public health of our community," he said in his signing statement.

The follow-up proposal is likely to focus on tax rates and tax rates on cannabis, said Sensitive CNMI's Gerry Palacios Hemley.