Government still ironing out kinks for first Cannabis shop license applicant
It’s a gradual progression, but it seems Guam’s budding cannabis businesses may be inching closer to operating soon.
The Cannabis Control Board shared in its meeting today that Greenland Farms Inc. became the first-ever applicant for a cannabis establishment license on the island.
Dafne Shimizu is the board's vice chair and Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation director.
"This is the fourth of the six steps to get a cannabis business license, so we’re definitely getting closer to being able to license—give an actual, issue an actual business license for a cannabis business," she said.
Still, the application status remains as is as clearances from varying agencies like the Guam Waterworks Authority and the Guam Fire Department are pending.
It’s a blockage in the pipeline that first-ever applicant Stephen Biscoe of Greenaland Farms Inc. chalks up to the industry's newness.
“As far as the other departments, they’re still trying to figure out on their end what to do for those clearances," he said. "So, we did speak to them—we would’ve gotten it done, but like I said, this is new.”
To help better streamline the process, Shimizu says she already held a meeting last week with the different permitting agencies, like the Department of Land Management, the Department of Public works, and Guam Fire Department, to iron out the requirements in the rules and regulations.
“Although there were orientations on the actual process—the overall process to get a business license, there were still some things, I think, that at the agency levels—the various agency levels that needed to be cleared up so that way we could move forward," she said.
Meanwhile, the chairwoman of the control board, Vanessa Williams, says she’s hopeful that by the next meeting, the board will be reviewing a complete application packet for a cannabis establishment license
“I think it’s really cool, the technical term that we have our first applicant, and you’re blazing the trail… no puns intended—it’s to get this process moving, and I’m sure it’s gonna be a lot smoother for everyone who comes after you,” she said.
