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 veggie
Registered: 07/26/04
Posts: 13,985
Loc: 
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 Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out 
#13440117 - 11/05/10 07:59 PM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out
November 5, 2010 - tokeofthetown.com
Ahhh... Sugar white beaches and sugar-frosted sticky buds.
A tropical Pacific island paradise almost just legalized weed -- and no passport is required to visit from the United States, since it is a protectorate. While that stony dream may have just suffered a setback, it lives on and may soon be put up for a popular vote.
The House passed the marijuana legalization bill on Wednesday, but at least five of nine senators are lukewarm to the idea of legalizing marijuana in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), which includes Saipan, Tinian, Ascuncion and Rota islands in the Pacific. This probably means the bill is doomed, reports Haidee V. Eugenio at the Saipan Tribune.
House Bill 17-45, sponsored by Rep. Stanley Torres (I-Saipan), passed the House Wednesday on a 10-7 vote with one abstention.
The bill would legalize, regulate and tax marijuana use for medicinal and recreational purposes in the CNMI, one of a list of revenue-generating bills pending in the 17th Legislature for the cash-strapped island nation.
Senate President Paul A. Manglona (R-Rota) said on Friday that he does not support the legalization bill.
"I don't want to put our children at risk," he said. "Our children are not for sale because in a way, this bill wants to generate revenue. I think that the message is clear."
Manglona sanctimoniously called on House members to instead work with the Senate's ad-hoc Committee on Tax Policy and Enforcement Review "on exploring different ways to effectively enforce tax laws and generate revenue" that are not related to allowing cannabis.
"Before we could even get to the idea of marijuana legalization, let's exhaust the first 99 ideas to generate revenue," Manglona said, sounding just as dumb as many American politicians. "I cannot speak for the other senators on what they want to do with the bill but I personally do not support this bill."
Sen. Frank Cruz (R-Tinian) said he does not support the marijuana legalization, either, and offered three weak and threadbare reasons.
"First, I am a retired police officer," Cruz said. "I spent 20 years as a police officer and it is not right for me to support this kind of legalization." Surprise, surprise.
Second, Cruz claimed their is no guarantee that passing the bill would generate needed revenue for the government. Yeah, he really said that.
And third, Cruz claimed that legalizing pot would put at risk millions of dollars in federal funds that the CNMI is "guaranteed" to lose, citing the U.S. federal funds received by the Department of Public Health, the Criminal Justice Planning Agency and the public school system, among other agencies.
"I'm not going to support a bill that cannot guarantee revenue," Cruz said. "I also am not going to support a bill that will let the CNMI lose millions in funds that are guaranteed to come our way every year."
Sen. Jovita Taimanao (I-Rota) joined the clueless chorus, claiming she believed the risks are greater than the benefits that could be gained from legalizing cannabis in the CNMI.
"If they're saying this bill will generate revenue for the CNMI, how much?" she said. "Where is the study, where is the statistics [sic] to support that? What I know for sure is that DPL [Department of Public Health] alone may lose $10 million in federal funds if we legalize marijuana use here."
The House Committee on Natural Resources said enactment of the bill into law "will possibly result in the loss of federal funds but at the same time the Commonwealth government will generate funds through taxation."
The question should be put before CNMI voters through a legislative or popular initiative, according to Senate Vice President Jude U. Hofschneider (R-Tinian).
"Let the majority decide," Hofschneider said. "Personally, I am not in support of it."
The bill would allow people 21 and older to "possess, cultivate, or transport marijuana for personal use."
It also permits the regulation and taxation of commercial production and sale of cannabis, but prohibits possession on school grounds and prohibits use in the presence of minors.
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5-HT2A
Registered: 01/30/10
Posts: 1,794
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: veggie]
#13441233 - 11/06/10 12:18 AM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
"I don't want to put our children at risk," he said. "Our children are not for sale because in a way, this bill wants to generate revenue. I think that the message is clear."
I want to put you at risk.
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SuperD
Lophophiend
Registered: 10/05/03
Posts: 5,752
Loc: My stash box
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: 5-HT2A]
#13441288 - 11/06/10 12:33 AM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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 At some point in time we have to also think of the adults, not just the children. Christ. 
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Manoa said:
I need to stop spending all my money on plants and take up a cheaper hobby, like heroin.
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 Ophanim
The Molecule'sSpirit
Registered: 10/01/07
Posts: 995
Last seen: 12 days, 13 hours
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: SuperD]
#13441831 - 11/06/10 03:06 AM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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FACT: All children will one day become adults.
Unless they die of a marijuana overdose first O_O
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DoseInTheWoods3420
LSD Connoisseur
Registered: 10/07/09
Posts: 1,134
Loc: wherever im needed (midwe...
Last seen: 1 year, 28 days
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: Ophanim]
#13442177 - 11/06/10 06:12 AM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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im thunking that somewhere on a pacific islandm theres gotta b a place with no lsd law in place and i think you could base an online vender from there?
hm.....
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You're either on the bus, or off the bus!
AIM= DoseInTheWoods
everything i say is complete and utter bulshit 
getting started on that abelton shit real soon. look out midwest
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Green_T
Getting to the chopper
Registered: 10/02/08
Posts: 4,024
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: DoseInTheWoods3420]
#13486569 - 11/15/10 09:46 AM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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UPDATE: CANNABIS IS NOW LEGAL IN MARIANAS ISLAND! (EDIT: ALMOST, but very close!)
Quote:
Pacific Island Passes Cannabis Legalisation Bill
Monday, 15 November - Voxy.co.NZ
Mana By-election candidate for the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party, Julian Crawford, is welcoming news that cannabis legalisation is taking hold in the pacific region.
The Marianas Islands, last week, became the first pacific country to pass a cannabis legalisation bill through parliament. The bill passed despite threats from the US to revoke over US$10 million in aid to the Islands.
"Cannabis Legalisation in the Marianas will significantly boost tourism in the region as well as undermining the black market profits associated with Cannabis," he said.
Mr Crawford hopes that other pacific islands will follow suit once they see the profound economic and social benefits of cannabis reform. "I believe that a prohibition free zone could be established in the pacific just as was done with the nuclear issue. New Zealand could play a key role in establishing such a zone," he said.
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"I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man" - Thomas Jefferson
Legalize Meth | Drug War Victims
Their vial of acid, which is on the table over there, tastes vile because they're incompetent chemists.
Edited by Green_T (11/15/10 01:00 PM)
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veggie
Registered: 07/26/04
Posts: 13,985
Loc:
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: Green_T]
#13486820 - 11/15/10 11:04 AM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
UPDATE: CANNABIS IS NOW LEGAL IN MARIANAS ISLAND!
That would be awesome, but not true just yet.
The bill did pass the House, but the Senate still has yet to vote and is not expected to pass. But medical marijuana does have a good chance.
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Rebirtha
I really like bread
Registered: 09/22/03
Posts: 5,584
Loc: over there
Last seen: 6 months, 2 days
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: veggie]
#13486878 - 11/15/10 11:23 AM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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incase anybody was wondering where these islands are..Top box 'Northern Marianas'
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durian_2008
cornucopian eating an elephant
Registered: 04/02/08
Posts: 2,497
Last seen: 22 hours, 25 minutes
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: Rebirtha]
#13487331 - 11/15/10 01:38 PM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Senate President Paul A. Manglona (R-Rota) said on Friday that he does not support the legalization bill.
"I don't want to put our children at risk," he said. "Our children are not for sale because in a way, this bill wants to generate revenue. I think that the message is clear."
 Historical examples notwithstanding, none of the cultural Marxists, hating on this guy, sensed alarm in volunteering themselves, other people, and future generations to be taxed.
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veggie
Registered: 07/26/04
Posts: 13,985
Loc:
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: veggie]
#13494568 - 11/16/10 08:39 PM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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Medical marijuana gaining traction
November 16, 2010 - Saipan Tribune
Sen. Luis Crisostimo (D-Saipan) said he will either propose a substitute bill to Rep. Stanley Torres' proposal to legalize marijuana for all purposes, or introduce a new bill that will only allow marijuana for medicinal purposes. But other senators still want to kill the bill during Friday's session on Rota.
Torres (Ind-Saipan), at the same time, said yesterday that if the Senate rejects his bill, he will introduce a new one that proposes to legalize marijuana only for medicinal use.
Torres said some senators and even Gov. Benigno R. Fitial have expressed support for medical marijuana legislation.
“I think that the Senate will consider medical marijuana more,” he said.
Torres found an ally in Crisostimo, who said he supports a medical marijuana bill. He said other people, including the elderly, use marijuana anyway for their ailments.
“But now they stopped the treatment because it's been harder to get marijuana here,” he said.
Crisostimo claimed that at least three senators are backing him up on a substitute bill. But one of the senators he mentioned separately said yesterday he does not support the bill, especially without thorough study, while the other two could not be reached for comment.
In a separate interview, Senate President Paul Manglona (R-Rota) said he is asking his colleagues to reject the House marijuana bill but he said if there are senators in support of medical marijuana legislation, then there should be a new bill focusing on legalizing marijuana only for medical purposes.
Torres' HB 17-45, which passed the House on a 10-7 vote, proposes to legalize marijuana not only for medicinal but also for recreational and other uses.
Manglona reiterated the social ill-effects of legalizing marijuana in the CNMI, especially its impact on the youth.
Senate Vice President Jude U. Hofschneider (R-Tinian), for his part, said he thinks the marijuana bill will be defeated in the Senate.
“It's a long shot for that bill to pass,” he said.
The governor said last week he would only support medical marijuana legislation, and that would further depend on how the bill is crafted.
Torres' bill seeks to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana use for medicinal and other purposes in the CNMI, adding to a list of revenue-generating bills pending in the 17th Legislature.
“I will not give up on this bill,” he added yesterday.
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Green_T
Getting to the chopper
Registered: 10/02/08
Posts: 4,024
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: veggie]
#13496444 - 11/17/10 04:47 AM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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^ I hope it passes!
If it does, I will make it a point to go on holiday there.
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"I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man" - Thomas Jefferson
Legalize Meth | Drug War Victims
Their vial of acid, which is on the table over there, tastes vile because they're incompetent chemists.
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German Kahuna
Facepalmer of Stoopid
Registered: 10/31/08
Posts: 15,798
Loc: On a Chemical Vacation
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: durian_2008]
#13496638 - 11/17/10 07:44 AM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
durian_2008 said:
Quote:
Senate President Paul A. Manglona (R-Rota) said on Friday that he does not support the legalization bill.
"I don't want to put our children at risk," he said. "Our children are not for sale because in a way, this bill wants to generate revenue. I think that the message is clear."
Historical examples notwithstanding, none of the cultural Marxists, hating on this guy, sensed alarm in volunteering themselves, other people, and future generations to be taxed.
I don't think you even understood a single word that guy said. And I am not going to discuss the necessity of a taxation system for a functioning economy and infrastructure that's not stone age. I was never quite able to understand the stupidity of right wing American taxophobia. Taxes are good and necessary if spent wisely for the common good of a nation.
This guy uses the old argument of "SOMEBODY THINK ABOUT THE POOR CHILDREN!" as if their health and well being was being threatened by legal marijuana, he doesn't mind the taxation part one bit.
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"Vegetarian" [ /ˌvedʒəˈteəriən/] - Ancient slang meaning "village idiot who can't hunt, fish or ride".
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wowitch17
Growery is Better
Registered: 01/11/06
Posts: 8,569
Loc: Chile
Last seen: 5 days, 3 hours
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: German Kahuna]
#13496810 - 11/17/10 09:22 AM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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culutral marxists man
we have a phobia of taxes because the money is regularly blown on shit like the iraq war.
"really conservative" people dont like taxes because they seemingly inhibit their liberty. I personally would like to see the US pick up the german tax system sometime in the future, but our country is so huge and fucked.
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Edited by wowitch17 (11/17/10 09:27 AM)
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Humility
Working on it
Registered: 10/07/08
Posts: 6,696
Last seen: 29 days, 18 hours
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: wowitch17]
#13496927 - 11/17/10 10:04 AM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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Taxes are theft. Taxes, by definition, is money spent less effectively than if it were spent in a manner that had nothing to do with "taxing".
No one in this whole wide world will spend *your* money more effectively than *you* spend it. When you start giving people figures and tell them to allocate funds that aren't theirs, they stop caring about efficiency and results. The government, on average, can require anywhere between 200-500% of the funds required by the free market to perform the exact same functions.
Government is inefficient, it is violence and it is on its way out.
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wowitch17
Growery is Better
Registered: 01/11/06
Posts: 8,569
Loc: Chile
Last seen: 5 days, 3 hours
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: Humility]
#13496936 - 11/17/10 10:07 AM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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i would love some good public transportation. Because where i live there are only buses, gas costs too much and they arent very good.
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German Kahuna
Facepalmer of Stoopid
Registered: 10/31/08
Posts: 15,798
Loc: On a Chemical Vacation
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: Humility]
#13498715 - 11/17/10 04:56 PM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Humility said:
Taxes are theft. Taxes, by definition, is money spent less effectively than if it were spent in a manner that had nothing to do with "taxing".
No one in this whole wide world will spend *your* money more effectively than *you* spend it. When you start giving people figures and tell them to allocate funds that aren't theirs, they stop caring about efficiency and results. The government, on average, can require anywhere between 200-500% of the funds required by the free market to perform the exact same functions.
Government is inefficient, it is violence and it is on its way out.
So I guess for you the way out of this whole regulation dillema is back to the tribal system and each for their own. Welcome back to the Stone Age.
You probably look in the direction of China if you want to see how success functions, because your country is going down shit creek and it's going there fast. And that's not because of government regulation, but because of you wingnuts blocking any centralized decisions. It's because tea party butt slurpees get to have their say instead of being locked away in the looney bin where they belong.
Also, I would like to hear a valid argument about what's really so bad about socialism. In theory, mind you, not the corrupt shit that's been practised so far. To his day there hasn't been any real socialism.
It's funny to see that among the most vigorous opponents of socialism you'll always have the conservative christians. I wonder if any of them have ever read the bible, because the basic ideas of christianity are very socialist.
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"Vegetarian" [ /ˌvedʒəˈteəriən/] - Ancient slang meaning "village idiot who can't hunt, fish or ride".
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durian_2008
cornucopian eating an elephant
Registered: 04/02/08
Posts: 2,497
Last seen: 22 hours, 25 minutes
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: German Kahuna]
#13499133 - 11/17/10 06:14 PM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Also, I would like to hear a valid argument about what's really so bad about socialism.
Valid.
Since, you don't seem to understand what privacy of persons and property is, I have no idea what would seem valid to you.
I can't even tell who or what I'm talking to, since you're not entirely sure of where your own individuality begins and ends.
  
Quote:
Senate President Paul A. Manglona (R-Rota) said on Friday that he does not support the legalization bill.
"I don't want to put our children at risk," he said. "Our children are not for sale because in a way, this bill wants to generate revenue. I think that the message is clear."
Quote:
durian_2008 said:
Historical examples notwithstanding, none of the cultural Marxists, hating on this guy, sensed alarm in volunteering themselves, other people, and future generations to be taxed.
Quote:
German Kahuna said:
I don't think you even understood a single word that guy said.
Generating revenue from children.
Obligating them, against their will, to provide for you, what you will not provide for yourself.
Quote:
wowitch17 said:
i would love some good public transportation. Because where i live there are only buses, gas costs too much and they arent very good.
A laissez-faire economy has no quota cases filling a limited number of good-paying positions, or fixing the price of gas above what local demand is willing to support.
Edited by durian_2008 (11/17/10 06:42 PM)
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German Kahuna
Facepalmer of Stoopid
Registered: 10/31/08
Posts: 15,798
Loc: On a Chemical Vacation
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: durian_2008]
#13499583 - 11/17/10 07:42 PM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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You are a total dumbass, end of story.
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"Vegetarian" [ /ˌvedʒəˈteəriən/] - Ancient slang meaning "village idiot who can't hunt, fish or ride".
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wowitch17
Growery is Better
Registered: 01/11/06
Posts: 8,569
Loc: Chile
Last seen: 5 days, 3 hours
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: German Kahuna]
#13499651 - 11/17/10 07:57 PM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
German Kahuna said:
You are a total dumbass, end of story.
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veggie
Registered: 07/26/04
Posts: 13,985
Loc:
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: wowitch17]
#13499763 - 11/17/10 08:20 PM (2 years, 6 months ago) |
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To tax or not to tax is a debate that will go on forever and will not be resolved here.
The real income from legal cannabis in the Mariana Islands would have been from the millions of tourism dollars coming in. Everybody on those islands would have benefited. I would imagine it would have become a mecca for pot smoking beach loving tourists from around the globe. What an ideal spot to spend your vacation. They really missed the boat on this.
But somewhere soon, a city, state, or country will legalize cannabis. It's no longer if or even when, but how many, and who will be first.
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veggie
Registered: 07/26/04
Posts: 13,985
Loc:
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Re: Pacific Island Almost Legalizes Marijuana, But Chickens Out [Re: veggie]
#13508150 - 11/19/10 10:49 AM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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Bad news, but expected. Just passing the House was a major accomplishment ...
Senate kills marijuana bill
November 20, 2010 - Saipan Tribune
The Senate rejected yesterday a controversial House bill that seeks to legalize marijuana in the CNMI for medical and recreational use, but the bill's author said he plans to introduce a separate “medical marijuana” legislation.
House Bill 17-47 was killed on a 7-0 vote during a Senate session held at the Northern Marianas College campus on Rota yesterday afternoon.
Sen. Luis Crisostimo (D-Saipan), who supports marijuana use for medical purpose, abstained from voting.
Sen. Henry San Nicolas (Cov-Tinian) was the only one absent among nine senators.
Some 30 Rota students, parents and educators were at the Senate session to drum up opposition against the marijuana bill.
“I know that marijuana can be used for medical purpose if it's done right, if it's legislated right. .At one time alcohol use was outlawed and later on became one of the most profitable commodities,” Crisostimo told Saipan Tribune in a phone interview after the bill's resounding defeat.
Rep. Stanley Torres (Ind-Saipan), author of the bill, said yesterday he is disappointed with the defeat of his bill.
“I know they didn't do much research about benefits of marijuana. I am still planning to introduce a medical marijuana bill,” he said.
HB 17-47 seeks to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana use for medicinal and other purposes in the CNMI. It allows people at least 21 years old to “possess, cultivate, or transport marijuana for personal use.”
Senate President Paul Manglona (R-Rota), in a phone interview, said the 7-0 vote shows the strong opposition to the marijuana legislation.
“Even students, parents, teachers testified against the bill,” Manglona said, adding that none testified in favor of the legislation.
Rota High School students Mariah Barcinas, Abraham Son Takeshi, Jael Manglona, and Austin Delos Santos testified against the bill, along with Dexter Apatang, president of the Dr. Rita Inos Junior High School's Parent-Teacher Association, Rota High School PTA vice president Marla Barcinas, and Rota High School teacher of CNMI history and U.S. government Elvira Mesngon.
The Senate president reiterated that marijuana puts children at risk, among other ill-effects of allowing marijuana for all purposes.
Manglona said alcohol and cigarette use among the youth is already a big problem, and this will get worse if marijuana use is legalized. Manglona also said there are a lot of ways to generate revenue, including properly enforcing tax laws.
Crisostimo said he will also talk to Torres whether he would really introduce a medical marijuana bill.
“Marijuana is needed for medical purposes. It's one of the best forms of painkillers because it has no side effects. I'm sure if it's medical marijuana bill, it will pass the Senate. The governor stated on record he supports medical marijuana bill,” the senator said.
Rep. Teresita Santos (Ind-Rota) said she is “elated” with the Senate's rejection of the controversial marijuana bill “as it would do more harm than good for our children, future generations and Commonwealth, not to mention the millions of federal funds that may be jeopardized if such bill becomes a public law.”
“The detrimental effects of marijuana and the fear of losing millions of federal funds were substantiated or collaborated by those who provided testimonies from the general public including that of PSS, CHC, Dare Program under the DPS. Thus, we cannot afford to lose what is already given versus what is not, as an old saying goes, 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,' or compromise the health, welfare and education of our children today and in the future,” Santos said.
During yesterday's session, Senate floor leader Pete Reyes (R-Saipan) also asked students whether they are in support of legalizing marijuana use, to which they said “no,” said Manglona.
Torres' marijuana bill has been drawing opposing views from community members. Those who oppose it say its enactment into law will result in the loss of millions of dollars in federal money and will increase crimes. Those supporting it say there has been no proof that this bill will really result in federal money pulled out from the CNMI and that marijuana's medicinal qualities will be a big help to residents.
Torres said legalizing marijuana use in the CNMI will also boost tourist arrivals on the islands. This is the first time that legislation has been introduced in the CNMI legalizing marijuana.
HB 17-47, HS1 or the Legalization, Regulation and Taxation of Cannabis Act of 2010 permits the regulation and taxation of the commercial production and sale of marijuana to people at least 21 years old.
The bill, however, prohibits possession of marijuana on school grounds and prohibits its use in the presence of minors.
Under federal law, marijuana remains a Schedule I drug and is illegal to use and possess.
But Torres said there are already 15 states in the U.S. that have legalized marijuana for medical use.
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