Guam took a big step closer to legalizing recreational marijuana use by adults, as senators on Wednesday night voted 8-to-7 to send a cannabis bill to the governor for action.

Pro- and anti-recreational cannabis advocates held signs of support or opposition to Bill 32 at the Guam Congress Building.

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If Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero signs the bill into law, Guam would join a dozen states and territories, including the CNMI, in legalizing marijuana for recreational and medical use.

The governor said she supports the concept of recreational cannabis legalization, but Ridgell said the governor still needs to review the final version of the bill since it received multiple floor amendments.

Speaker Tina Muña Barnes, D-Mangilao, said she's hoping the bill will be transmitted to the governor by close of business Thursday.

The eight senators who voted to pass Bill 32 were Sen. Clynt Ridgell, D-Talofofo; Muña Barnes; Sens. Regine Biscoe Lee, D-Tamuning; Joe San Agustin, D-Yigo; Telo Taitague, R-Tamuning; Jose "Pedo" Terlaje, D-Yona; Kelly Marsh, D-Asan; and Louise Muña, R-Yigo.

The seven "no" votes came from Vice Speaker Telena Nelson, D-Dededo; Sens. Sabina Perez, D-Barrigada; Wil Castro, R-Barrigada; Jim Moylan, R-Tumon; Amanda Shelton, D-Asan; Therese Terlaje, D-Yona; and Mary Torres, R-Santa Rita.

A minimum of eight votes were needed to pass the bill, which has six sponsors: Ridgell, Muña Barnes, Lee, San Agustin, Jose Terlaje, and Taitague.

Wednesday's 5 p.m. session didn't resume until about 6:30 p.m. Senators again voted to take a 30-minute recess and started acting on measures at around 7:11 p.m.

Current law

Ridgell received applause from people outside the session hall after the session ended.

The freshman senator said he's excited and happy about the bill's passage, and thanked his co-sponsors and his colleagues for supporting it.

Ridgell also thanked the senators "who may have voted 'no' on the measure but still contributed in some form or fashion to the measure and for all the debate."

"Let’s get one thing straight. Currently, it is legal to consume cannabis. It’s actually only a violation. It’s not technically a crime. It’s been decriminalized already," he said. Possession of cannabis under an ounce is a violation and is subject to a fine.

"Up to $100 I believe is the fine. So it’s not considered a criminal act if you’re caught under an ounce currently. So what we’ve done is we’ve actually removed that fine so now there won’t be a fine if you're caught anything with under an ounce," he said.

Castro, one of the seven senators who voted against the bill, said "the next only logical step is to strengthen...the rules and regulations that go with the bill" if the governor signs it.

Bill 32, known as the Guam Cannabis Industry Act of 2019, would legalize recreational pot use by anyone at least 21 years old.

The recreational pot legalization's passage comes five years after Guam voters approved medical marijuana in 2014.

Guam's medical cannabis program, however, hasn't gotten off the ground because of a lack of a testing laboratory, among other things. In 2018, home cultivation was authorized by law.

Other measures voted

During Wednesday night's session, senators also confirmed the governor's nomination of Alice Taijeron to serve as president of the Guam Housing Corp.

They also adopted unanimously Sen. Amanda Shelton's Resolution 36, which seeks to express the 35th Legislature's support for the payment of war claims to Guam's World War II survivors.

'Out of order'

The speaker ruled Nelson "out of order" three times Wednesday morning, and two of them were because of Nelson continuing to talk even after the speaker pounded her gavel.

Nelson accused her colleagues of rushing to vote on the marijuana legalization bill before some community members could hold a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. to discuss the proposal.

"We're closing out the community by forcing something down our throats and their throats," Nelson told the speaker.

Muña Barnes pounded her gavel, saying, "That ladies and gentlemen, is out of order."

A legislative committee held a March 8 public hearing on Bill 32, which drew support and opposition from those who testified in person and those who submitted written comments.

Spat

Sen. Jose "Pedo" Terlaje, one of Bill 32's sponsors, made a motion to go into recess until 5 p.m. to give legislative staff enough time to engross or incorporate adopted floor amendments to the bill for voting. It mustered enough votes.

Nelson registered her strong opposition to the motion and talked over both the speaker and Jose Terlaje.

When the session went into recess at noon, Nelson had a spat with Sen. Telo Taitague, one of Bill 32's sponsors, in the session hall.

Taitague said two senators will be on medical leave on Thursday so moving the vote to Thursday will prevent them from participating in the process.

'Disrespect'

Taitague said senators could agree to disagree on issues.

"However, I thought that Senator Nelson needed to realize that there is some type of decorum in this Legislature and once the speaker puts her gavel down to say order and keep order, and you have someone to continue talking over her, then that’s a disrespect to this body," Taitague said.

She hopes that the legislative committee on ethics will look into Nelson's disrespectful acts during the session.

Ridgell: Silent majority

Ridgell, the pot bill's main sponsor, said while some opponents have come out at the eleventh hour with loud voices in seemingly orchestrated opposition, he believes a silent majority supports Bill 32.

He cited online polls showing more voting in favor rather than against legalization.

A Gallup poll shows that two out of three Americans support cannabis legalization at 66 percent in support, Ridgell said.

Ridgell said after extensive research into both the pros and cons, along with data from states and territories that have legalized adult-use cannabis, the conclusion is that legalization is the best avenue for Guam.

"The data and science have paved a clear route towards the passage of Bill 32," he said. "The community has been engaged in every step of the process, and the legislative process was followed precisely."

Ridgell said proper notice was given, and an entire day was dedicated to holding a public hearing on the bill. He said many calls and email messages were entertained during the requisite 10-day period to submit testimony following the public hearing, and the public comment period was extended beyond the initial 10-day period.

Thorough deliberation was allowed on this measure. All the processes prescribed by law have been followed.

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Reporter Haidee Eugenio covers Guam's Catholic church issues, government, business and more. Follow her on Twitter @haidee_eugenio. Follow Pacific Daily News on Facebook/GuamPDN and Instagram @guampdn.











