Guam’s cannabis regulators say federal conflicts, banking restrictions and complex regulations have slowed the rollout of the island’s recreational marijuana industry — but changes may be on the horizon.
Speaking at Thursday’s Cannabis Forum, Cannabis Control Board Chair Vanessa Williams Cruz said early efforts to stand up the industry were met with uncertainty from government agencies navigating a substance that remains illegal under federal law.
“It caused a lot of confusion and hesitance,” Cruz said.
Although Guam passed its recreational Cannabis Industry Act in 2019, rules were not finalized until 2021. Regulators said much of the delay stemmed from coordinating multiple agencies and developing a framework without a local model to follow.
Banking remains one of the biggest obstacles. Cruz said the board cannot regulate banks, and only one local financial institution has agreed to work with cannabis businesses — under strict conditions like separate accounts and cash-only deposits.
Rulemaking also drew conflicting input from stakeholders. Some pushed for high cultivation standards, while others now argue the rules are too burdensome. Tourism and hospitality voices also raised concerns about the industry’s potential impact on visitors.
“You end up with rules that aren’t going to please everybody,” Cruz said.
Still, officials stressed that regulations can be revised. The board plans to resume regular meetings to consider amendments aimed at removing barriers that have prevented businesses from opening.
Public health representatives added that nearly 300 patients are registered for medical cannabis, but no large-scale producers are currently operating in that program.
Despite challenges, regulators called interagency cooperation a success and said education will be key moving forward to reduce stigma and clarify the difference between medical and recreational cannabis.
“This is an ongoing process,” Cruz said. “If the rules aren’t working, we need to revisit them.”
