Rhode Island Becomes 11th Medical Marijuana State

[High Plains]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 3, 2006

Rhode Island Becomes 11th Medical Marijuana State
First Medical Marijuana Bill Since Supreme Court Ruling Passes Via Historic Veto Override
CONTACT: Bruce Mirken, MPP director of communications, 202-543-7972 or 415-668-6403

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND -- The Rhode Island House of Representatives voted to override Gov. Donald Carcieri's veto of the Marijuana Policy Project's medical marijuana bill today, making Rhode Island the 11th state to make medical marijuana legal and the first to enact a medical marijuana law since the Supreme Court's June decision in Gonzales v. Raich. Rhode Island's medical marijuana law is the third to be enacted by a state legislature, and the first passed by overriding a governor's veto. (The other eight states' medical marijuana laws were enacted via ballot initiatives.)

"Today's vote proves yet again that the movement to protect medical marijuana patients from arrest is unstoppable," said Rob Kampia, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project, which spearheaded the effort to pass the bill. "Last June, White House Drug Czar John Walters proclaimed 'the end of medical marijuana as a political issue' in the wake of our loss in the U.S. Supreme Court, but he couldn't have been more wrong. The public, the medical community, and Rhode Island legislators agree that patients with cancer, AIDS or multiple sclerosis should not be arrested for using medical marijuana on the advice of their physicians. We will continue to roll back the government's war on the sick and dying, and the White House drug czar can't stop us any more than he can make water flow uphill."

MPP worked closely with a coalition of Rhode Island patients, medical experts and health advocates to build support for the bill. Organizations working to pass the bill included the Rhode Island Medical Society, the Rhode Island Nurses Association, and AIDS Project Rhode Island. In association with the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition, MPP recently sponsored a billboard near the statehouse and encouraged patients and other supporters to call and write their state representatives to urge them to override the governor's veto.

Medical marijuana legislation continues to receive support in state legislatures around the country. Medical marijuana bills were introduced recently in Michigan and Wisconsin, and MPP has retained lobbyists to advocate for medical marijuana legislation in Illinois, Minnesota, and New York. Similar legislation is poised to pass in New Mexico.

With more than 19,000 members and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit http://MarijuanaPolicy.org.

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[High Plains]

1. And Colorado and Nevada will vote in November

on full legalization of marijuana for recreational use by adults.

Where are Democratic politicians on these issues?

[nickshepDEM]

7. Hopefully in favor. I have no interest in smoking weed, but I still

believe it should he legal. The damn drug is no worse than alcohol. Legalize it, regualte it, tax it... Just like beer, wine, cig's, etc...

[Union Thug]

2. Excellent news!

LEGALIZE NOW!

Aside from medical use, I still find it amusing that the same bastards that want to maintain the cannabis prohibition have no issues with tobacco or alcohol..but I digress...

[KamaAina]

3. You knew it wouldn't take long to hit the news

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060103/ap_on_he_me/medical_marijuana

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Rhode Island on Tuesday became the 11th state to legalize medical marijuana and the first since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that patients who use the drug can still be prosecuted under federal law.

The House overrode a veto by Gov. Don Carcieri (R-What A Surprise; Ed.), 59-13, allowing people with illnesses such as cancer and AIDS to grow up to 12 marijuana plants or buy 2.5 ounces of marijuana to relieve their symptoms. Those who do are required to register with the state and get an identification card.

Federal law prohibits any use of marijuana, but Maine, Vermont, Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington allow it to be grown and used for medicinal purposes.

How did the bluest of all Blue States end up with a repuke governor, anyway? I know, people who live in (volcanic) glass houses shouldn't throw stones... :eyes:


edit: speling, plus: I sense an extra-special two-part Family Guy in the works... :smoke:

[M155Y_A1CH]

10. What a set up

The state gets folks in the marijuana trade to register,
then the federal drug warriors can come round 'em up.

[Zhade]

4. WOOHOO!

One day, necessity will dictate that both herb and hemp will be legal.

Until then, the fight against lies and ignorance continues!

:smoke:

[wordpix2]

5. yeah, now on to the other 39 states

[BeFree]

6. In my district

The last Dem convention voted 2 to 1 for a MM resolution. And this in what's known as a red state.

[Joey Liberal]

8. I'm proud to be from Rhode Island!

I'm an Okie now, but Rhode Island is where I was born and raised. I'm proud of my home state!

[beltanefauve]

9. Way to go, Rhode Island!

I lived in "The Biggest Little" for 14 years, went to college there and then stayed on for a while. I remember when I was an entering freshman, the school sent an information packet, including information on the drug laws. In big letters it read, "THIS YEAR WE ARE NUMBER ONE" for severity of laws and for prosecutions. And yet my graduation year, High Times rated my school "number one", too. The state was full of contrasts like that. I'm glad the veto was overridden!