Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 3 augusT 2017

Puerto Rico betting on medical marijuana to help ease crisis

By DANICA COTO the saw the island’s medi- nearly two years ago and had a new industry.” billions in capital and im-
Associated Press cal marijuana industry start new Gov. Ricardo Rossello For Narelis Cortes, the issue proving an economy in a
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) to expand, and found one last month signed a mea- isn’t so much work as con- mega-crisis. There is none,”
— Jesus Aponte pushes a of the rare new jobs open- sure that set out a legal quering pain. said David Quinones, op-
door open to reveal hun- ing up on the island, over- framework for the industry. She’s one of nearly 9,000 erations director of Natural
Puerto Ricans who have Ventures, the island’s larg-
paid $25 a year for a per- est medical marijuana pro-
mit to use medical mari- ducer.
juana to treat at least 14 However, Puerto Rico
pre-approved conditions economist Indira Luciano
including HIV, cancer, mul- said the state’s revenue
tiple sclerosis, migraines, projections are too high,
anxiety and epilepsy. especially because offi-
The 32-year-old mother cials didn’t take into ac-
and Air Force veteran said count variables such as
rheumatoid arthritis, fibro- the prices of products, the
myalgia and the initial availability of other treat-
stages of Parkinson’s dis- ments, and wages on an
ease had kept her in bed island with a 45 percent
for hours a day. She said poverty rate.
she spends about $350 a She said the economy
month on medical mari- would receive a bigger
juana. She vapes every boost if Puerto Rico went
four to six hours and has further and legalized rec-
eliminated the need for 20 reational marijuana: “The
medications. stricter the law, the less
“I’m functional now,” she economic impact it will
said. The island’s treasury have.”
Noel Sola, a cultivation worker at Natural Ventures inspects marijuana plants in Caguas, Puerto secretary says the medical In more populous Colora-
Rico. Investors in Puerto Rico have spent more than $3 million to obtain licenses issued by the is- marijuana industry could do, with a much broader
land’s health department to cultivate, manufacture and sell medical marijuana. generate up to $100 million recreational marijuana
(AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo) a year, in part through a market, the state earned
dreds of aromatic, spiky seeing some 2,000 plants Backers say that will spark sales and use tax, and help $200 million in state tax
green plants, a crop that at the Natural Ventures fa- an expansion of the pot ease an unemployment revenues last year, ac-
Puerto Rico hopes will help cility. fields, manufacturing cen- rate that has hovered cording to Clinton Saloga,
it ease a grinding econom- “This is an economic niche ters and dispensaries that around 12 percent. a research associate with
ic crisis by generating mil- that we can grab on to,” have been popping up That would be a rare glim- the Colorado-based Mari-
lions in revenue and tens of he said, though he added, across the island. mer of good news for an juana Policy Group. He
thousands of jobs. “A lot of people told me, “A lot of people were wait- island facing billions of dol- said he doesn’t expect
Aponte, a 29-year-old bi- ‘What are you doing with ing for this law,” said attor- lars in budget cuts, a public medical marijuana to be a
ologist and chemical engi- your life? You’re throwing ney Goodwin Aldarondo, debt load of more than $70 huge economic boon for
neer, had been thinking of away your future.’” president of Puerto Rico Le- billion and a population Puerto Rico.
joining the wave of young But like more than two doz- gal Marijuana, a consulting that is declining as people “In terms of being a sav-
Puerto Rican professionals en U.S. states, Puerto Rico company. “It’s the only via- flee to the mainland seek- ior ... I don’t think it would
heading to the U.S. to seek is pinning a little of its future ble alternative we have to ing better opportunities. single handedly accom-
work — an exodus that has on the recently illegal drug. solve the economic situa- “Name one new industry plish that, but it would be
aggravated the U.S. territo- The territory legalized med- tion. It’s been many, many in Puerto Rico capable of a new, untapped source
ry’s woes. But then he saw ical marijuana by decree years since Puerto Rico has generating millions and of employment, economic
activity and tax revenues
that could provide signifi-
Guyana turns to retired military to quell prison unrest cant relief,” he said.
Medical marijuana is legal
in 29 U.S. states, but Puerto
GEORGETOWN, Guyana bled prison system. Prison inmates escaped from a and injuring several others. Rico has some advantag-
(AP) — Authorities in Guy- Director Gladwin Samuels recently fortified prison. Six Seventeen inmates died es: Tax rates on the industry
ana say they urgently need said Wednesday that the other inmates with smug- last year when they were are lower and it’s not sub-
to hire retired military and current wardens are over- gled handguns shot their trapped in their cells by a ject to a federal law that
paramilitary officers to help worked and need backup. way out of a maximum se- fire they started to protest prohibits investors from de-
restore order to the South The call for help comes less curity prison that was set on overcrowding, poor diet ducting cannabis-related
American country’s trou- than two weeks after 13 fire in July, killing a guard and lengthy trial delays.q operating expenses for tax
purposes.q