LEGALIZING marijuana to help the CNMI government generate revenue is œabsolutely insanely ridiculous, according to anti-drug advocate and activist Ed Propst.
In an email interview yesterday, Propst said he understands the medical benefits of marijuana.
But, he does not believe the commonwealth will be able to contain, license, and properly tax marijuana crops.
He also doubts that allowing people to smoke pot will generate revenue if the CNMI will lose $10 million in federal grants.
œIf our leaders cant even tax a lucrative cash crop like betel nut, what makes us reckon they will have any success with marijuana? What a joke, Propst said.
Congressman Gregorio C. Sablan said the CNMI is going to lose a lot of federal money if marijuana is legalized in the islands.
He said the Department of Public Health and the Department of Safety may lose millions of dollars in federal grants used in addressing the impact of drug abuse here.
Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez earlier told lawmakers that federal law still considers marijuana as an illegal drug. He warned them that his department will lose more than $10 million in federal grants once the marijuana legalization bill becomes law.
Sablan said there are many other bills that can be introduced to help the CNMI economy other than the legalization of marijuana.
Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan, cant say if there is money in œpot.
œIs it really going to bring in revenue? I dont know, he said in a separate interview yesterday.
Reyes said the Senate may entertain the bill but he is not sure if he and his colleagues will support the thought of legalizing œpot in the commonwealth.
The House on Wednesday passed H.B. 17-47 with 10 members voting yes and seven voting against it.
Introduced by Rep. Stanley T. McGinnis Torres, Ind.-Saipan, H.B. 17-47 will allowpeople who are at least 21 years ancient to posses, cultivate and transport marijuana for personal use.
The bill imposes a tax on commercial production and sale of marijuana.
Torres believes that the restricted supply of œmedical marijuana could make unintended targets for criminals that would rather steal œgrass than grow their own.
Aside from Torres, the other House members who voted yes were Speaker Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan; Vice Speaker Felicidad T. Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan; House Minority Leader Diego T. Benavente, R-Saipan; Reps. Eliceo D. Cabrera, R-Saipan; Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero, R-Saipan; Joseph M. Palacios, R-Saipan; Sylvestre I. Iguel, Covenant-Saipan; Trenton B. Conner, R-Tinian; and Fredrick P. Deleon Guerrero, Ind.-Saipan.
Those who voted no were House Floor Leader George N. Camacho, Ind.-Saipan; Reps. Francisco S. Dela Cruz, R-Saipan; Ralph S. Demapan, Covenant-Saipan; Antonio P. Sablan, R-Saipan; Teresita A. Santos, Ind.-Rota; Edmund S. Villagomez, Covenant-Saipan; and Ray N. Yumul, R-Saipan.
Reps. Ray A. Tebuteb, R-Saipan, and Raymond D. Palacios, Covenant-Saipan, were absent.
Article source: http://www.mvariety.com/2010110431716/local-news/marijuana-bill-insanely-ridiculous.php
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Halo Sobat, Nama Saya Sofyan Syah, Memulai Dunia Blogging Sejak Nov 2011, Meskipun Masih Baru terjun di Dunia Blogging, Saya tidak patah semangat Untuk menjadi Yang terbaik dari yang Terbaik, karena saya yakin, Tidak ada hal yang tidak Mungkin.Buat saya Blogging Is My Life.Senang rasanya jika sobat sudah Berkunjung di blog ini.
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