Pubdate: Sat, 10 May 2014
Source: Pacific Daily News (US GU)
Copyright: 2014 Pacific Daily News
Contact: http://www.guampdn.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.guampdn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1122
Author: Jerick Sablan

ATTORNEY TO SUPPORT SENATORS

The Legislature is moving forward in seeking a declaratory judgment 
from the Supreme Court of Guam to determine if the question of 
legalizing medicinal marijuana will be on the November General Election ballot.

The Legislature has contracted attorney Julian Aguon to seek the 
judgment on its behalf, Sen. Tina Muna Barnes said.

The contract was signed on Thursday, she said.

Barnes, D-Mangilao, is the author of the bill that would have placed 
the question of allowing medical marijuana on the ballot in November.

Last month, the Legislature passed Resolution 358, which seeks a 
declaratory judgment from the Guam Supreme Court over the 
Legislature's ability to use a legislative submission to direct the 
Guam Election Commission to place the measure on the ballot.

The Guam Election Commission has said it won't move forward because 
legislative submission is not allowed under the Organic Act.

Barnes and Sen. Aline Yamashita, R-Tamuning, co-authored Bill 215, 
which the governor allowed to lapse into law.

The measure required the Election Commission to ask voters if the 
Joaquin "KC" Concepcion Cannabis Act of 2013 should be law.

The act, if approved, would make medicinal marijuana legal on Guam. 
Marijuana would be legal for medical use for those with various 
illnesses, including cancer, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. An 
earlier effort within the Legislature to pass the act and make 
medicinal marijuana legal on Guam didn't have enough support among 
lawmakers to pass.

On March 6, the Election Commission decided not to place the 
initiative on the ballot.

Barnes said she expects a filing in the Supreme Court within the next few days.

"I'm confident this will get on the ballot. I only hope for the best 
so that our people will be given the opportunity by the General 
Election to vote on this very important issue," Barnes said.

In order for a measure to get on the ballot it must be certified no 
later than Aug. 6, which is 90 days before the General Election on 
Nov. 4, according to Guam law.

Barnes said residents who suffer from various illnesses and chronic 
pain will greatly benefit from the legislation moving forward.

Forum

Meanwhile, University of Guam Master of Public Adminstration students 
are hosting a forum on medical marijuana at the Mangilao campus at noon today.

The forum will take place at the lecture hall, room 131, in the 
university's Jesus and Eugenia Leon Guerrero School of Business and 
Public Adminstration building.

The forum will include medical experts and community stakeholders to 
discuss the proposed legislation. The public is invited to attend the 
free event.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom