Bill to Legalize and Regulate Marijuana in Northern Mariana Islands Receives Final Approval in Legislature, Heads to Gov. Torres for His Consideration

Statements below from Sensible CNMI, which advocated for the legislation, and the Marijuana Policy Project, the nation’s largest marijuana policy organization

The Northern Marianas’ Commonwealth Legislature has approved a bill to legalize and regulate marijuana for adult and medical use. H.B. 20-178, titled the Taulamwaar Sensible CNMI Cannabis Act of 2018, will now be sent to Gov. Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres for his consideration.

The Senate approved the bill 6-0-2 on Thursday, and it was approved by the House 18-1-1 on August 8. A detailed overview of the bill is available on the Marijuana Policy Project’s website. In summary, the legislation:

• • allows adults 21 and older and patients with certain medical conditions to possess limited amounts of marijuana (one ounce), marijuana-infused products (16 ounces in solid form, 72 ounces in liquid form), and marijuana extracts (five grams);
  • creates a Homegrown Marijuana Registry, through which adults and patients can register to grow a limited number of marijuana plants (six mature and 12 immature or up to twice that amount in the case of medical need) for personal use;
  • directs the legislature to enact taxes and fees on all marijuana sold by a producer, as well as an excise tax on retail sales of marijuana for adult use (medical marijuana is exempt);
  • provides for six types of regulated marijuana businesses: producers, testing facilities, processors, retailers, wholesalers, and lounges; and
  • establishes a five-member appointed CNMI Cannabis Commission, which will serve as the regulatory agency overseeing commercial marijuana and hemp.

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands would be the first U.S. territory to legalize and regulate marijuana for adult use. Such laws have been adopted by voters in eight states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Lawmakers in Vermont and voters in D.C. have adopted laws making marijuana possession and cultivation legal for adults, but not regulating commercial production or sales.

Statement from Gerry Hemley, co-founder of Sensible CNMI:

“We commend the lawmakers for taking this important step forward, and we hope Gov. Torres will join them in supporting a more sensible marijuana policy for the Northern Marianas. This is an opportunity for the commonwealth to establish itself as a trendsetter on this issue and set an example for the states and other U.S. territories. This legislation will replace the illegal marijuana market with a system of regulated, taxpaying businesses. It will not only bolster our economy, but also improve public health and make our community safer.”

Statement from Karen O’Keefe, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project:

“This is a historic moment, as it is the first time a governing body in the U.S. has ever enacted legislation to both end marijuana prohibition and establish a system of regulation to replace it. Adults and medical cannabis patients will finally be able to access marijuana safely and legally, and products will be regulated and controlled to ensure they are safe for consumers. This legislation will allow for the establishment of new businesses that create jobs and generate new tax revenue that can support important programs and services.”

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Hawkins, who previously served in leadership roles at the NAACP, Amnesty International USA, and the national Coalition for Public Safety, has been at the forefront of the criminal justice reform movement for three decades

WASHINGTON — The nation’s largest organization dedicated exclusively to marijuana policy, the Marijuana Policy Project, announced Tuesday it has hired Steve Hawkins to serve as its next executive director. The announcement comes after a months-long candidate search that included several exceptionally qualified candidates.

“We are thrilled to welcome Steve Hawkins as the new executive director of MPP," said Troy Dayton, chair of the MPP board of directors. “Steve has a strong track record in the field of criminal justice reform, and he knows how to build a movement toward meaningful social change. We were not only impressed by his expertise and experience, but also his strong convictions regarding the injustice of marijuana prohibition.”

Hawkins has been at the forefront of the criminal justice reform movement for three decades as an advocate, policy strategist, nonprofit leader, and foundation executive. He has extensive experience overseeing campaigns to advance policy change through public education, stakeholder mobilization, engagement with government officials, and development of strategic alliances with business leaders, law enforcement officials, scholars, faith leaders, victims’ advocates, and other key voices.

“The country is moving in the right direction on marijuana policy, but there is still a lot of work to be done,” Dayton said. “Steve is the perfect choice to oversee that work and lead MPP into the future.”

Hawkins began his career as an attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund challenging racial disparities in the criminal justice system. He later served as executive vice president of the NAACP, spearheading its efforts to end the police practice of “stop and frisk” in New York City and successfully encouraging the NAACP board of directors to adopt a policy in support of marijuana decriminalization. He also previously served as executive director of Amnesty International USA, as a program executive for the Atlantic Philanthropies, and as a senior program manager at the JEHT Foundation, where he directed early investments of substantial resources into advocacy efforts to end mass incarceration, including groups working to eliminate criminal penalties for marijuana possession. Most recently, Hawkins was president of the Coalition for Public Safety, the largest national bipartisan effort to reform the justice system at the state and federal levels. A more detailed biography of Hawkins is available on the MPP website.

“Throughout my career, I have witnessed the counterproductive effects of the war on marijuana and its especially devastating impact on communities of color,” Hawkins said. “MPP has been at the vanguard of changing public perceptions and public policies surrounding marijuana, and I am proud to join this incredible team of advocates at such a critical moment in the movement to end marijuana prohibition.”

MPP has been a leading advocate for federal marijuana policy reform on Capitol Hill since the organization was founded in 1995, and it has spearheaded most of the major state-level reforms that have occurred over the past two decades. It organized the successful initiatives to legalize and regulate marijuana for adult use in Colorado, Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada, as well as the successful medical marijuana initiatives in Arizona, Michigan, and Montana. On the legislative front, MPP was behind the lobbying and grassroots organizing effort that led to the passage of the first-ever legalization measure through a state legislature in Vermont earlier this year. It also played leading or key supporting roles in passing comprehensive medical marijuana laws in D.C., Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont, as well as laws decriminalizing marijuana possession in D.C., Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

“Great strides are being made with every election cycle and legislative session, but there is still much to be done, both at the state and federal levels,” Hawkins said. “I look forward to working with MPP’s nationwide network of grassroots supporters, organizational allies, and members of the legal cannabis industry to keep the momentum going and put an end to marijuana prohibition once and for all.”

Matthew Schweich, who has served as MPP’s executive director since November, will assume the role of deputy director to focus on the MPP-supported ballot initiatives to regulate marijuana for adult use in Michigan and to establish a medical marijuana program in Utah, both of which will be decided by voters in the November general election. Prior to serving as executive director, Schweich was MPP’s director of state campaigns and oversaw several successful ballot initiative campaigns in 2016, including Maine and Massachusetts.

“Matt provided critical leadership during a challenging transition period for MPP,” said longtime MPP board member Joby Pritzker. “He maintained the effectiveness of our advocacy operations, managed our fundraising efforts, and oversaw ballot initiative campaigns in multiple states, while at the same time leading our staff and assisting the board with the executive director search. We greatly appreciate Matt's tireless dedication to MPP and his heartfelt commitment to the marijuana policy reform movement. He stepped up to the plate when we needed him most.”

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Statements below from Sensible CNMI, which advocated for the legislation, and the Marijuana Policy Project, the nation’s largest marijuana policy organization

The Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives approved a bill Wednesday to legalize and regulate marijuana for adult and medical use. It now heads back to the Senate, which approved a similar proposal in May.

H.B. No. 20-178, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Deleon Guerrero (R-Saipan), was approved 18-1-1 in the House. A detailed overview of the bill is available on the Marijuana Policy Project's website. In summary, the legislation:

• allows adults 21 and older and patients with certain medical conditions to possess limited amounts of marijuana (one ounce), marijuana-infused products (16 ounces in solid form, 72 ounces in liquid form), and marijuana extracts (five grams);
• allows adults 21 and older and patients with certain medical conditions to possess limited amounts of marijuana (one ounce), marijuana-infused products (16 ounces in solid form, 72 ounces in liquid form), and marijuana extracts (five grams);
• creates a Homegrown Marijuana Registry, through which adults and patients can register to grow a limited number of marijuana plants (six mature and 12 immature or up to twice that amount in the case of medical need) for personal use;
• directs the legislature to enact taxes and fees on all marijuana sold by a producer, as well as an excise tax on retail sales of marijuana for adult use (medical marijuana is exempt);
• provides for six types of regulated marijuana businesses: producers, testing facilities, processors, retailers, wholesalers, and lounges; and
• establishes a nine-member appointed CNMI Cannabis Commission, which will serve as the regulatory agency overseeing commercial marijuana and hemp.

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands would be the first U.S. territory to legalize and regulate marijuana for adult use. Such laws have been adopted by voters in eight states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Lawmakers in Vermont and voters in D.C have adopted laws making marijuana possession and cultivation legal for adults, but not regulating commercial production or sales.

Statement from Gerry Hemley, co-founder of Sensible CNMI:

“The true essence of legalization has always been about having safe and legal access to cannabis without fear of arrest and harassment. This thoughtful legislation will control, regulate, and tax marijuana in a manner that is similar to alcohol. It was carefully crafted to improve public health, protect children, and keep our communities safe. We hope senators will join their House colleagues in supporting this commonsense measure.”

Statement from Karen O’Keefe, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project:

“We applaud CNMI legislators for keeping this important legislation alive and moving it forward. Taking marijuana off the illegal market and regulating its production and sale will improve public health and safety. Patients with debilitating conditions who could benefit from marijuana deserve steady access to quality-controlled medicine. The Senate now has a chance to make history by signing off on the bill and sending it to Gov. Torres.”

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Statement below from the Marijuana Policy Project, the nation’s largest marijuana policy organization

WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced legislation Wednesday that would end the federal government’s prohibition of marijuana. The proposal is co-sponsored by Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).

The bill, titled the Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act, would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, leaving its legal status to the states, while maintaining the federal government’s authority to prevent trafficking of marijuana from states that have legalized it to those that have not. It would also provide grants to state and local governments to develop or expand expungement or record-sealing programs for marijuana possession convictions, and it would direct marijuana tax money to the Small Business Administration to provide loans to marijuana businesses owned and controlled by women and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. The proposal also allocates funds to marijuana-related public health and safety research. The full bill is available here.

Statement from Matt Schweich, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project:

“This proposal is yet another sign that Congress is moving toward a major shift in U.S. marijuana policy. Senate leaders from both parties have now signaled their support for ending prohibition at the federal level and adopting a system that respects state laws regulating marijuana for medical and adult use. The debate is transitioning from whether marijuana should be legalized to how it should be legalized. There are still hurdles to overcome in Congress, just as there are for any other issue, but things are clearly headed in the right direction. A strong and growing majority of Americans think it is time to end marijuana prohibition, and states are moving quickly to develop their own marijuana policies. Members of Congress do not want to find themselves on the wrong side of history — or their constituents.”

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Vermont is the first state in the nation to lift its prohibition on marijuana possession and cultivation through the legislative process; advocates are calling on the Legislature and Gov. Scott to support the establishment of a regulated marijuana market for adults 21 and older

MONTPELIER, Vt. — Marijuana will become legal for adults in Vermont on Sunday, making it the ninth state to lift its prohibition on adult marijuana use (in addition to D.C.) and the first to do so via the legislative process.

H. 5111 was approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Phil Scott in January. It eliminates the state’s civil penalty for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and removes penalties for cultivation of up to two mature marijuana plants and four immature plants by adults 21 and older. A more detailed summary of the law is available here.

“Vermonters are ready to end marijuana prohibition,” said Matt Simon, New England political director for the Marijuana Policy Project, which has been lobbying in Vermont since 2003. “Gov. Scott and the Legislature deserve a great deal of credit for listening to their constituents and moving forward with this first phase of legalization. Adults shouldn’t be punished for using a substance less harmful than alcohol, and starting July 1 they no longer will be in the Green Mountain State.

“Now that marijuana is legal for adults, it’s time for the state to get serious about regulating it and ensuring it is being produced and sold safely and legally.”

The Governor’s Marijuana Advisory Commission, which formed last year to develop a plan to regulate and tax marijuana for adult use, will issue its final report by November 15. A newly elected Legislature will consider that proposal when it convenes in January.

“A regulated market will create jobs and spur economic development, giving young adults a reason to stay in Vermont rather than seeking opportunities in other states,” Simon said. “It will also produce much-needed tax revenue that can be used for substance abuse treatment and prevention. Most Vermonters understand that eliminating penalties is only the first step in ending marijuana prohibition, and they expect legislators to finish the job in 2019.”

Eight other states have enacted laws legalizing and regulating marijuana for adult use, all through ballot initiatives, and Michigan voters are considering a similar proposal in November. In D.C., voters approved a ballot initiative making personal possession and home cultivation legal for adults 21 and older.

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Statement from the Marijuana Policy Project, the nation’s largest marijuana policy organization

Voters approved State Question 788 on Tuesday, making Oklahoma the 30th state in the nation to adopt an effective medical marijuana law. The measure was leading 56-44 with 85 percent of precincts reporting when the New York Times called the election.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health has already begun drafting rules for a Medical Marijuana Control Program, according to StateImpact Oklahoma, and earlier this month Gov. Mary Fallin said she would convene a special legislative session if the ballot measure passes so lawmakers can create a legal framework for regulating medical marijuana.

State Question 788 is the fourth medical marijuana initiative in a row to win in a state that went for Donald Trump, and that number could grow to as many as six by the end of the year. They were approved in Arkansas, Florida, and North Dakota in 2016, and they will appear on ballots in Missouri and Utah this November.

Effective medical marijuana laws have been adopted in 30 states, including Oklahoma, as well as in D.C. and the U.S. territories of Guam and Puerto Rico. Nineteen other states have adopted medical marijuana laws that are ineffective because they are either unworkable or exceptionally restrictive. Idaho is now the only state without any form of medical marijuana law.

Statement from Karen O’Keefe, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project:

“The passage of State Question 788 highlights the strength and diversity of public support for laws allowing the medical use of marijuana. Most Oklahomans agree that patients should be able to access medical marijuana safely and legally if their doctors recommend it. It is noteworthy that this measure passed in such a red state during a primary election, when voter turnout tends to be older and more conservative than during a general election. Support for medical marijuana is overwhelming, and it spans the political and demographic spectrums.

“We are pleased to see state officials are already working on developing a regulatory framework for medical marijuana, and we hope they will include patients, advocates, and other stakeholders in the process. It is important that patients have reliable access to the products that work best for their conditions. Oklahoma officials can learn a lot from the successes and shortcomings of other states’ programs, and hopefully they will create a system that will serve as an example for other states in the region.”

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Five years after Colorado voters decided to regulate marijuana for adult use, rates of current and lifetime use among high school students remain relatively unchanged and on par with national averages

DENVER — A new federal report shows rates of teen marijuana use in Colorado have still not increased since voters decided to end marijuana prohibition in 2012 and start regulating it similarly to alcohol for adult use.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) found 19.6 percent of Colorado students are currently using marijuana (compared to 19.8 percent nationwide), down from 21.2 percent in 2015 and 22 percent in 2011, the year before voters approved Amendment 64. The rate of lifetime use dropped to 35.5 percent in 2017 (compared to 35.6 percent nationwide), down from 38 percent in 2015 and 39.5 percent in 2011.

The Colorado and nationwide data for 2017 are available at https://tinyurl.com/y9kor29o. The CDC released the nationwide YRBS data late last week, and it appears to have released the state-level data sometime this week.

Statement from Marijuana Policy Project spokesperson Mason Tvert, who co-directed the campaign in support of Amendment 64:

"After five years of marijuana being legal for adults in Colorado, government surveys continue to find no increase in usage rates among high school students. This is very welcome news for Colorado, and it should be particularly welcome news for those who opposed the state's legalization for fear it would lead to an explosion in teen use. Hopefully it will allay opponents' concerns in other states where voters or lawmakers are considering proposals to legalize and regulate marijuana for adult use. Colorado is proof that you can prevent teen marijuana use without arresting thousands of responsible adult marijuana consumers every year. Rather than debating whether marijuana should be legal for adults, let's focus on how we can regulate it and control it to make it less available to teens."

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A bill to legalize and regulate marijuana for adult use in Canada received final approval from lawmakers Tuesday and will now be sent to the governor general for royal assent. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet will choose the specific date on which the law will take effect, and legal sales are expected to begin within eight to 12 weeks.

Canada will be just the second country — and the first G7 nation — to legalize marijuana for adults at the national level. The first was Uruguay, where legislation was signed into law in December 2013 and a limited number of pharmacies began selling marijuana to adults in July 2017. Nine U.S. states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws making marijuana legal for adults 21 and older, and eight of those laws include systems for regulating the cultivation and sale of marijuana.

Bill C-45, known as the Cannabis Act, creates an overarching national regulatory framework and enables each province to establish its own system of licensing and regulating marijuana businesses. Adults will be allowed to possess up to 30 grams of marijuana, and all products will be sold in plain packaging with clearly marked labels.

Statement from Mason Tvert, spokesperson for the Marijuana Policy Project:

“This is a historic step forward for the movement to end marijuana prohibition. We commend the members of Parliament and the prime minister for their extraordinary demonstration of leadership on this issue. Canada will set a great example for countries that are considering similar reforms, and it will inspire much-needed debate in those that are not.

“Marijuana is a less harmful substance than alcohol, and Canada is about to start treating it that way. Adults will finally be able to purchase it safely and legally in regulated, taxpaying businesses rather than resorting to the illegal market. Products will be tightly controlled and subject to strict packaging and labeling requirements, rather than being sold in plastic baggies alongside other illegal substances.

“It is time for the U.S. to take similar action and adopt a more rational federal marijuana policy. There has been a lot of positive movement in Congress lately, so hopefully members will be inspired to finally address this issue head on, as Canada has.”

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The provision, which was included in the base bill for the first time ever, would continue to block the Justice Department from interfering in state medical marijuana laws

WASHINGTON — For the first time ever, senators have included protections for state medical marijuana laws in their base Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations bill.

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies approved the spending legislation Tuesday, including a provision that would block the Justice Department from using funds to interfere in state medical marijuana laws. The overall bill is expected to receive a full committee vote Thursday.

Such a provision has been in effect since 2014, but this is the first time it has been included in the Senate's base CJS Appropriations bill. The House added a similar provision to its base CJS Appropriations bill in committee last month. The House version of the measure, known as the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment (and subsequently the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment) was added to the bill as a floor amendment in previous years. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) was the most recent sponsor of the amendment in the Senate.

Statement from Don Murphy, director of conservative outreach for the Marijuana Policy Project:

"The inclusion of this provision in the base bill symbolizes just how far this issue has come. We have reached the point where even in a Republican-controlled Senate, a medical marijuana provision is not considered a poison pill and its support requires no further debate. Protecting state medical marijuana laws against federal interference is now viewed as commonsense rather than controversial.

"We did not reach this milestone easily. For years, patients, their families, and advocates have been fighting for compassionate medical marijuana laws at the state and federal levels. We now have at least some form of medical marijuana law in nearly every state in the nation, and polls show nearly universal support for allowing the medical use of marijuana. We commend Senate leaders for taking a proactive approach and including this important provision in the base CJS spending bill."

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The Senate approved a bill Thursday to legalize and regulate marijuana for adult use; it will now head back to the House, which has already passed a version

Canada moved another step closer to ending its prohibition of marijuana on Thursday when the Senate approved legislation to legalize and regulate marijuana for adult use. Bill C-45 will now head back to the House of Commons, which has already approved a previous version.

Once approved in the House, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is expected to move quickly to implement the legislation, with legal adult sales beginning as soon as August. Canada will be just the second country — and the first G7 nation — to legalize marijuana for adults at the national level. The first was Uruguay, where legislation was signed into law in December 2013 and a limited number of pharmacies began selling marijuana to adults in July 2017.

“Canada is demonstrating extraordinary leadership on marijuana policy,” said Mason Tvert, spokesperson for the Marijuana Policy Project. “It is setting an example not only for the U.S., where reform is already progressing at the federal level, but for countries around the world where there has been little to no debate on the subject.”

The Canadian legislation creates an overarching national regulatory framework and enables each province to establish its own system of licensing and regulating marijuana businesses. Adults will be allowed to possess up to 30 grams of marijuana, and all products will be sold in plain packaging with clearly marked labels. Home cultivation is allowed at the federal level, but it can be banned at the provincial level.

“This legislation will allow adults in Canada to start purchasing marijuana safely and legally from licensed businesses rather than tracking it down through illegal and potentially dangerous channels,” Tvert said. “Products will be tested, packaged, and labeled to ensure they are not contaminated and that consumers know what they’re getting. This newly regulated market will also create thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in tax revenue.”

Nine U.S. states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws making marijuana legal for adults 21 and older, and eight of those laws include systems for regulating the cultivation and sale of marijuana.

“Marijuana prohibition is a failed U.S. policy experiment that was replicated by countries around the world,” Tvert said. “It has caused far more problems than it has solved, and governments would be wise to follow Canada’s example by revisiting their marijuana policies and exploring alternatives.”

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