He has asked the House Committee on Natural Resources chaired by Rep. Teresita A. Santos, Ind.-Rota, to address his department’s concerns regarding House Bill 17-47 or the Legalization of Marijuana Act of 2010.
Marijuana, Villagomez said, is illegal to use and possess under federal laws.
“Do we then run the risk of losing all of federal grants should marijuana become legalized here in the CNMI and yet still illegal under the federal guidelines?” he asked Santos in his testimony regarding the bill introduced by Rep.
Stanley T. Torres, Ind.-Saipan.
Villagomez believes that several other departments and agencies in the CNMI government will face a similar predicament if marijuana is legalized in the commonwealth.
He said his department cannot survive without federal grants.
“During my 15 plus years of treating people addicted to drugs and alcohol,” he added, “I have seen my share of people whose life were greatly affected by long-term marijuana use.”
A substance abuse professional, Villagomez urged the committee to educate the entire CNMI community about marijuana use.
“Give all the negative effects and the medicinal benefits of using marijuana and let the public decide on how they want to deal with this issue. After all, we will all be affected by whatever decision is made,” he said.
