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Senate votes to reject governor’s executive order that moved Cannabis Commission under Department of Commerce
Summary
On Jan. 16, 2026, the CNMI Senate voted 6‑yes, 1‑abstention to reject Executive Order 2025‑005, which would have transferred the Cannabis Commission to a division of the Department of Commerce and terminated the commissioners. Senate legal counsel told members the EO may conflict with Public Law 20‑66 and CNMI constitutional provisions and that the EO omitted the cannabis revolving fund balance from its stated financial rationale.
The Northern Mariana Islands Senate voted on Jan. 16, 2026, to reject Governor’s Executive Order 2025‑005, which transferred the Cannabis Commission into the Alcohol, Tobacco and Beverage Control (ABTC) division of the Department of Commerce and terminated the commission’s members. After a motion to disapprove the EO was seconded, the clerk reported the final tally as six votes in favor of rejection, one abstention and two members absent.The motion to disapprove was offered from the floor by the chamber’s floor leader, who told members the motion followed a legal review and recent materials the Senate had received.
Senate legal counsel delivered a detailed opinion to the chamber that raised constitutional and statutory concerns about the EO. Counsel summarized the administration’s stated financial…
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