Guam – Freshman Senator Clynt Ridgell has sparked the conversation by introducing legislation to legalizing recreational adult use of cannabis.

The Guam Cannabis Industry Act of 2019, if passed by the legislature would legalize recreational use of marijuana for individuals 21 years or older on Guam, much like our sister islands in the CMNI.

Ridgell states that residents will be able to grow up to 6 plants for personal cultivation.

The push for the legalization is to create a new industry, new revenues and new jobs for island residents.

“Economists have forecast the coming year to be one of stagnant economic growth. The cannabis industry is the proverbial shot in the arm that will stimulate our stagnant economy.”

Part of the bill calls for Marijuana cultivation facilities to be taxed 15-percent on every dollar sold.

The bill would also form a 5 member Cannabis Control Board, which will be tasked to promulgate rules and regulations to enforce the Act.

If passed the bill would take a year to implement and issue the rules and regulations followed by another 90 days to adopt those rules and a year and a half to open dispensaries.