The Guam Cannabis Control Board issued its first permit to operate to a cannabis business on Wednesday.
Four months after receiving conditional license approval, cannabis cultivator Guam Real Deal LLC, doing business as Deep Green Guam, got the green light to begin operations.
Department of Revenue and Taxation’s Compliance Branch inspector Meiko Cepeda reported staff “has conducted inspections, has worked closely with this applicant, and the Compliance Branch recommends approval.”
Board members voted unanimously to issue the permit.
Since getting conditional approval on Feb. 25, the business has been inspected by various government agencies, and compliance inspectors have done “a thorough walk-through of the establishment,” according to the report issued by Cepeda during Wednesday’s meeting.
Adult recreational marijuana use on Guam has been legal since April 2019. However, no cannabis businesses have been approved by the Cannabis Control Board until this year.
Some businesses on island sell hemp-derived THC products, which were made legal under federal law, but Wednesday’s move launches Guam's commercial cannabis industry.
Commissioners also discussed an inquiry from a property owner who is entertaining the possibility of leasing space to a cannabis business.
Rev and Tax Director Marie Lizama explained the situation.
“He would lease ground-floor retail space to a retail cannabis store operator, and an upper floor space to the church,” she said. “The church does hold daily services, offering guidance and prayer and counseling to individuals and families, and of course there is staff onsite daily. The letter does not describe any formal youth ministry, Sunday school, daycare or children’s programming, however its daily services are directed at both individuals and families, which may bring minors to the property.”
Lizama said the clearance should come from the Department of Land Management, which typically provides drug-free school zone clearances for cannabis establishments. She said the department would reach out to the property owner.
