\”The Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) made history in 2018 by becoming the first U.S. jurisdiction to legalize both medical and recreational cannabis through a legislative act, rather than a ballot initiative. The CNMI Cannabis Act of 2018 allows adults over the age of 21 to possess, use, and cultivate cannabis for personal use. The law also established a regulated market for cannabis sales, with licenses available for cultivation, manufacturing, and retail businesses. The CNMI’s decision to fully legalize cannabis was driven by a desire to boost the local economy and reduce reliance on tourism.
The territory has also implemented strong social equity measures, ensuring that residents affected by previous drug laws have access to opportunities in the legal cannabis industry. The CNMI\’s cannabis program is designed to be inclusive and to promote responsible use. The government continues to develop and refine the regulations governing the industry, and cannabis is expected to play a significant role in the territory’s economic future.\”
Northern Mariana Islands | |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Sankattan Siha Na Islas Mariånas (Chamorro) Commonwealth Téél Falúw kka Efáng llól Marianas (Carolinian) | |
| Anthem: "Gi Talo Gi Halom Tasi" (Chamorro) "Satil Matawal Pacifiko" (Carolinian) ("In the Middle of the Sea") (regional) "The Star-Spangled Banner" (official) | |
 Location of the Northern Mariana Islands (circled in red) | |
| Sovereign state |  United States |
| Before association with the United States | Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands |
| Commonwealth status | January 9, 1978 |
| End of U.N. Trusteeship | November 4, 1986 |
| Capital and largest city | Saipan 15°11′N 145°44′E / 15.19°N 145.74°E |
| Official languages | |
| Other languages | Tagalog |
| Ethnic groups (2023) |
|
| Religion (2010) |
|
| Demonym(s) | Northern Mariana Islander (formal) Northern Marianan (other) Marianan (diminutive form) Chamorro (colloquial) |
| Government | Devolved presidential constitutional dependency |
| Donald Trump (R) | |
• Governor | David M. Apatang (I) |
| Dennis C. Mendiola (R) | |
| Legislature | Commonwealth Legislature |
| Senate | |
| House of Representatives | |
| United States Congress | |
| Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R) | |
| Area | |
• Total | 464 km2 (179 sq mi) |
• Water (%) | negligible |
| Highest elevation | 965 m (3,166 ft) |
| Population | |
• 2022 estimate | 46,078 |
• 2020 census | 47,329 |
• Density | 113/km2 (292.7/sq mi) (97th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2016 estimate |
• Total | $1.24 billion |
• Per capita | $25,516 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2022 estimate |
• Total | $1.096 billion |
• Per capita | $23,785 |
| HDI (2017) | 0.875 very high |
| Currency | United States dollar (US$) (USD) |
| Time zone | UTC+10:00 (ChST) |
| Date format | mm/dd/yyyy |
| Driving side | Right |
| Calling code | +1 |
| USPS abbreviation | MP |
| Trad. abbreviation | CNMI |
| ISO 3166 code | |
| Internet TLD | .mp |
The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), is an unincorporated territory and commonwealth of the United States consisting of the 14 northern islands of the Mariana Archipelago in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The southernmost, Guam, is a separate U.S. territory. The Northern Mariana Islands were listed by the United Nations as a non-self-governing territory until 1990.
During the colonial period, the Northern Marianas were variously under the control of the Spanish, German, and Japanese empires. After World War II, the islands were part of the United Nations trust territories under American administration before formally joining the United States as a territory in 1986, with their population gaining United States citizenship.
Their area is 183.5 square miles (475.26 km2). In 2020, 47,329 people lived in the CNMI. The vast majority of the population resides on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. The other Northern Mariana islands are sparsely inhabited; the most notable among these is Pagan, which has been largely uninhabited since a 1981 volcanic eruption.
The administrative center is Capitol Hill, a village in northwestern Saipan. The current governor of the CNMI is David M. Apatang, who was elevated from lieutenant governor on July 23, 2025, following the death in office of Arnold Palacios who had served as governor since January 2023. The legislative branch has a nine-member Senate and a 20-member House of Representatives.