A bill to legalise marijuana for medicinal purposes in the Northern Marianas has been pre-filed by Senator Sixto Igisomar.
Cannabis plant Photo: AFP
Senator Igisomar says such legalisation is now less controversial than a few years ago as Colorado and Washington have joined other states in approving marijuana for recreational use.
There are 24 states, including the territory of Guam, that have enacted laws to legalise marijuana.
In 2012, a bill to legalise marijuana also pointed to potential revenues for the CNMI in addition to medical benefits.
The bill claims that the CNMI must realise that the time has come to legalise the use and possession of marijuana strictly for medicinal purposes, and to remove any associated penalties.