A widely-supported bill in the Northern Marianas aimed at putting the issue of legalising marijuana before the people in a referendum has failed to make the ballot.
Senator Sixto Igi-somar wanted to introduce the bill after the medical use of marijuana was approved in neighbouring Guam in 2014.
Photo: AFP
It was hoped that it would be able to give pain relief to people suffering from serious medical conditions such as cancer and multiple sclerosis.
Mr Igi-somar said a busy CNMI legislature was to blame for the failed bill.
He hopes to introduce a similar bill in the next legislature.
