The marijuana farm inside Saipan Select LLC on Saipan. Photo: Mark Rabago
A bill that essentially removes marijuana from pre-employment drug testing for government jobs was signed into law by Northern Marianas Governor Arnold Palacios last week.
Some see it it as a step forward in further destigmatizing cannabis in the CNMI - but it doesn't mean smoking cannabis on the job is acceptable.
The new law removes marijuana from all pre-employment drug testing for government employees with certain exceptions like any positions that are federally funded, even partially; and includes positions that are safety sensitive, like the Department of Public Safety, Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, and Department of Corrections.
Commonwealth Cannabis Commission director Mikiotti Evangelista welcomed the development.
"We're seeing a cultural shift happening in real time," he said.
"We're accepting cannabis culture as an everyday reality as opposed to a fringe idea as it had been for decades."
He also agreed that little by little the stigma associated with marijuana in the CNMI is slowly fading.
"I feel like the stigma surrounding cannabis is, indeed, lifting, and that should be the trend so long as cannabis continues to be consumed in a safe and responsible manner."
Saipan Select LLC managing partner Clyde Norita also sees the passing of Public Law 23-27 as a positive.
"Customers have expressed concern on testing positive for marijuana," he said.
"Cannabis is legal in the CNMI yet the fear of testing positive has suppressed users of cannabis. Cannabis is legal across the CNMI as a recreational drug.
"This new law reinforces the legality of marijuana as a recreational drug in the CNMI."
Meanwhile, CannaSaipan Saipan Dispensary & Lounge owner Louis Rodgers gave a bit of perspective on the new law, essentially saying that it doesn't mean government employees can now use marijuana liberally any time.
"This bill only means that testing positive for THC (tetrahydrocannabinol - a cannabinoid found in cannabis) will not be a disqualifier when an individual is being selected for hiring," he said.
"It does not mean government employees can now smoke weed. It doesn't not mean that THC will not be a factor in keeping their jobs if they test positive while employed."
He also doesn't see the law's passage as leading to a boom in sales for cannabis dispensaries like his company.
"It's not going to affect cannabis sales one bit.
"The loss of a customer that used marijuana and then needed to stop before a drug test for government employment would be the same loss under these new rules - because they can't continue to use once employed by the government."
Through his interactions with his customers daily, Rodgers said probably less than 1 per cent of the population is even considering working for the government.
"As for the stigma, it's a lot deeper than just government employees or future government employees. It is the government that legalized it, correct? So, I'm not sure how that equates to lessening the broader stigma," he said.