“Today, our people made history,”
The Northern Mariana Islands has become the first American jurisdiction to legalize the sale of marijuana through legislature.
Gov. Ralph Torres (R), , signed the bill on Friday, following its approval by the Republican-controlled House and Senate. The new law not only allows adults 21 and older to legally possess marijuana, but it will foster the creation of a fully legal marijuana market, overseen by government regulators.
“The territory is also the first US jurisdiction to go from having cannabis totally illegal to allowing recreational use without first having a medical marijuana program.” Said Ton Angell
“Today, our people made history,” Gov. Torres said in a statement. “We took a stand to legalize marijuana in the [Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands] for recreational, medical, and commercial use.”
Marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, which applies in the Northern Mariana Islands. But the federal government has by and large taken a hands-off approach to states and other jurisdictions legalizing marijuana,
Source – Vox –
Image – Sen. Jude Hofschneider
