Pacific

Marijuana nearly legal in CNMI

19:49 pm on 3 September 2018

A bill decriminalising marijuana use in the CNMI is a signature away from becoming law after the Senate passed the House's version of the bill last week.

Photo: 123rf.com

The bill originally came from the Senate, but was shot down by the lower chamber due to a revenue-generating procedure that was deemed unconstitutional.

The House reintroduced it last month and the Senate passed it without amendments.

The cannabis bill allows adults 21 and older and patients with certain medical conditions to possess limited amounts of marijuana, marijuana-infused products, and marijuana extracts.

It also creates a Homegrown Marijuana Registry, through which adults and patients can register to grow a limited number of marijuana plants for personal use.

The bill also 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.

The bill now goes to Governor RalphTorres who has 28 days to sign it into law. No action on the 29th day allows it to become law automatically.