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Senator Nelson Resubmits Medical Marijuana Bill In Face Of Federal Government Crackdown

Senator Positive Nelson on Thursday announced that he has submitted his medical marijuana bill to the legal counsel of the 32nd Legislature, an important step for a measure that has gone through multiple hearings and public forums, with a majority of Virgin Islanders in favor of it. But Mr. Nelson's submission comes at a time when the federal government, whose dollars the U.S. Virgin Islands is heavily reliant on, has been cracking down on the drug, with Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently comparing marijuana to heroin. The veteran senator said the reintroduction of the marijuana bill was part of a determination to fulfill his obligation as a policymaker to the people of the Virgin Islands, who supported the ballot initiative in November 2014. "The new measure has been reviewed by policy advisors, industry leaders and others to ensure that we have a solid and comprehensive product," Mr. Nelson said. "We also included the pertinent changes made by various senators that surfaced...