THE House Committee on Commerce and Tourism did not act on House Bill 22-78 on Tuesday because its members want to further discuss it with the CNMI Cannabis Commission.
Authored by Rep. Joseph Leepan T. Guerrero, H.B. 22-78 proposes to, among other things, establish a cannabis regulatory revolving fund.
Cannabis Commission Managing Director Monique Sablan attended the committee meeting to reiterate the commission’s support for the bill. She also thanked the House members for their time, consideration and continued support for the new industry.
Sablan said H.B. 22-78 is “truly in line with our duty as regulators of the cannabis industry.”
She said it supports their mission and will help “ensure adequate funding and functioning of the industry, promote a robust regulatory system for cannabis licensees…and encourage responsible use of cannabis in the Commonwealth.”
In particular, Sablan said the commission supports the bill’s intent to establish a cannabis regulatory revolving fund. All monies from direct appropriation, payment of fees and any fine collected will be deposited into the revolving fund.
She said this will provide the commission with budgetary security and will help ensure that they will be able to hire competent staff, provide training, purchase necessary supplies and equipment, acquire a cannabis tracking system, and fund other needs to support the commission’s daily regulatory duties and mandate.
But a member of the committee, Rep. Celina Babauta, moved to table the bill, saying it is important that the committee meet with the cannabis commission to further discuss the need for a revolving fund.
She said she supports Sablan’s comments but will propose amendments to the bill at a later time.
Babauta said the committee needs to get an update from the commission on how much it has collected, “and only then can we make a fair judgment as to the need for a revolving fund.”
The committee unanimously agreed to table H.B. 22-78.
Aside from its chairwoman, Rep. Denita Yangetmai, and Babauta, the other members present in the meeting were Reps. Richard Lizama, Vicente Camacho and Corina Magofna.
Celina Babauta
