Shawn Raymundo

sraymundo@guampdn.com

Speaker Benjamin Cruz on Tuesday afternoon will reconvene a series of public hearings on a bill to legalize marijuana for recreational use by adults on island.

Bill 8-34, which Gov. Eddie Calvo sent down to the Legislature earlier this year, would allow the government to regulate and impose a 15-percent sin tax on the sale of marijuana for those 21 years and older.

While many of those who testified during a previous hearing in mid-February said they support the measure, several different issues were raised, from the amount of the sin tax to the packaging of the drug.

The poll Should Guam legalize recreational marijuana? closes at 5 p.m. April 12, 2017.

In a press release following the February hearing, Speaker Cruz stated that the series of hearings is meant to give everyone in the public an opportunity to voice their opinion on the bill and resolve “key issues currently surrounding cannabis use on Guam.”

The next hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday in the public hearing room of the Guam Congress Building in Hagåtña.

Gov. Calvo wrote the measure after the island started to implement a long-delayed medicinal cannabis program, which was approved by voters in 2014. Citing concerns that implementing the medical program will be too costly for the government, Calvo has pushed for the drug’s full legalization so revenue from the sin taxes can subsidize Guam Memorial Hospital.

Calvo’s bill also comes at a time where sentiment to end pot prohibition is higher than ever, and more states have begun to relax their laws on the drug.

However, recent statements from President Donald Trump’s administration and new U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions have sparked concerns about a federal crackdown on marijuana in states where it’s been legalized.

Calvo recently told the Pacific Daily News that until it’s certain the Trump administration will begin imposing federal marijuana regulations on recreational marijuana, the local government should proceed with caution on his bill.

“I talked to our people, and I would even caution the Legislature before we move on my legislation, we have to get very clear on where the federal government wants to move on this thing,” Calvo said. “And if the Trump administration is really going to clamp down on recreational marijuana, do we move in a certain direction that the results will not be favorable to us?”

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