Guam’s medical cannabis program on hold as it awaits testing lab applicants

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No one has applied for a license to set up an independent medical marijuana testing laboratory in Guam, nearly two months after Gov. Eddie Calvo signed into law a bill implementing the rules for an MMJ program, a high-ranking official said.

According to the Pacific Daily News, the U.S. territory’s medical cannabis program can’t start without a testing laboratory under a measure approved by voters in the 2014 General Election.

The program is at “a standstill,” said Leo Casil, acting director of the Department of Public Health and Social Services.

Sen. Dennis Rodriguez, who wrote the medical marijuana rules and regulations bill, has said the dearth of testing lab applicants could be attributed to a lack of regulations.

Voters overwhelmingly approved legalizing medical marijuana on the island for debilitating medical conditions such as epilepsy, HIV, cancer and glaucoma.

Guam started accepting MMJ business applications in January 2017.

At least 40 applications were submitted, sparking hopes at the time that the island could have its MMJ program up and running later that summer.

 Associated Press