The committee met yesterday with the legislation’s author, Rep. Stanley T. Torres, Ind.-Saipan, who offered to submit a substitute bill.
In an interview yesterday, Santos, the committee chairwoman, said the substitute bill will address some concerns raised during the series of public hearings conducted on Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
These concerns, Santos said, have something to do with legalization, regulation and taxation.
Santos, Ind.-Rota, said once the substitute bill is ready, her committee will submit it to the House which may act on it next week.
The Public School System, the Department of Public Health and the Department of Public Safety’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education program are concerned about losing federal funding if marijuana is legalized in the CNMI.
Those who support it believe that the plant has medicinal benefits and will help generate income for the cash-strapped government.
