Medicinal marijuana on Guam could be left to voters

by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - Lawmakers this afternoon discussed a revised version of Bill 215 that proposes to legalize medicinal marijuana. The bill was introduced by Senators Tina Muna Barnes and Aline Yamashita that instead of lawmakers making a decision on the issue, would provide for a binding referendum during this year's general election to determine whether medicinal cannabis should be legalized on Guam.

"As a committee, we didn't want to see this bill not get out and have to at least facilitate it all the way through and we decided to take the next step and give it to our people because that is what the overwhelming majority of my colleagues felt that our people should be given that opportunity to decide whether they want the use of medicinal marijuana be put in place for those who are suffering the debilitating health issues," said Barnes.

Barnes says the intent of the bill does not change whereas the substituted version addresses issues raised during the public hearings last year including the make-up of the board and the funding resource which will come from the healthy future funds.