A key requirement for the island’s recreational cannabis industry to launch has hit a roadblock.

When the Cannabis Control Board granted approval for the first and sole lab applicant Pacific Analytical Services last October, it was the push Guam's cannabis industry needed to bud. 

Industry rules and regulation requires lab testing for all cannabis products before being sold. 

But during Monday’s board meeting, chair and attorney Vanessa Williams brought up the applicant’s issues getting approval from the Department of Land Management. 

 "I heard that someone was having issues getting applications for, I believe it was a lab establishment, trying to get clearances from the Department of Land Management because of some misunderstanding in the rules," she said. 

Department of Revenue and Taxation Compliance Supervisor Craig Camacho said he had a “casual conversation” with the applicant and the issue seems to stem from a lease agreement requirement. 

"Because the requirement for land management clearance..is an actual lease agreement, showing the lease agreement to show that he’s going to conduct his business there as an establishment," he said. " I think what he was wanting to address with the board is that he’s kind of skeptical now of locking a lease agreement if they’re not sure the facility is going to qualify." 

Camacho said the applicant asked if the board would allow for a letter of intent to lease the facility without actually committing to the lease. 

"It’s not a request by my office," he said. "I did speak to him though now that you brought it up. I invited him to today's meeting, but again he’s traveling. He was asking whether, to prevent this from happening from being locked into a lease agreement and probably not going to comply with utilities or power down the road when it comes to the PTO, would the board allow for a letter of intent."

Board member and Guam Behavioral and Health and Wellness Center Director Therese Arriola said the applicant should make a formal request to the board before they can come to a decision. 

She adds land management should also give their input. 

"I would like to hear from land management themselves whether it could or could not, whatever their decision is or whatever their position might be, so we can understand it because it might not be the last time," Arriola said. 

Until then, whether Pacific Analytical Services can move forward with opening up the first laboratory will have to wait until the next board meeting.