Guam legalizes recreational marijuana

Guam’s Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero (D) on Thursday signed a bill legalizing recreational marijuana in the territory into law. 

The law allows people over 21 to have up to an ounce of marijuana in their possession, according to Pacific Daily News. Adults will also be permitted to grow six marijuana plants, but for the time being will not be permitted to buy or sell marijuana. 

{mosads}”We must regulate this illicit drug that is the most widely used drug in our society,” Leon Guerrero reportedly said at a press conference. “We have to take it and control it, monitor its use and effects, benefit from its medicinal efforts, allow our people to live in a safer environment.”

“Keeping it illegal in my mind rejects the motion that it exists and that the underground market will continue to prey on us. We have to be ahead of this and we have to control it,” she added.

The law also creates a Cannabis Control Board that will be tasked with the drug’s testing, manufacturing, licensing, packaging and production. The board has a year to create marijuana regulations, which have to be approved by lawmakers.