Guam Lawmakers Approve Cannabis Legalization

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]L[/dropcap]awmakers in Guam narrowly approved a bill legalizing recreational cannabis for adults over 21. The bill now goes to the desk of the governor, Lou Leon Guerrero, who is expected to sign it into law. Cannabis sales will be subject to a 15 percent excise tax, with the revenue expected to help fund law enforcement, substance use disorder treatment and agriculture programs.

Senators in the U.S. territory backed the bill with a vote of 8-7. The bill received the eight “yes” votes that it needed to pass, including six “yes” votes from the bill’s cosponsors. The bill has received support from both political parties, with both Democratic and Republican senators voting on each side of the bill.

“The people of Guam can be proud that their elected officials are willing to do the right thing in regards to cannabis policy,”said Justin Strekal, political director for NORML. “Lawmakers throughout the United States should take notice and notes.”

The Legislature held several hearings on the bill leading up to the vote, with a number of amendments being added in recent weeks. Some of the provisions include prohibiting cannabis businesses from operating within 1,000 feet of schools and playgrounds, requiring an economic impact study and changing how revenues are allocated.

The governor said she supports the concept of cannabis legalization, but she still needs to review the final version of the bill because of the numerous amendments added. Under the bill, the governor is required to put together a cannabis commission to outline rules for use, production, sale and taxation of cannabis. The regulations must go through legislature and be signed into law by the governor within a year.

Guam initially legalized cannabis for medical use back in 2014, however medical cannabis patients who were qualified to use cannabis were unable to legally obtain cannabis. In 2017, former governor of Guam, Eddie Calvo, tried to legalize cannabis for recreational use, but nothing ever transpired from the bill.