Pubdate: Fri, 30 Dec 2005
Source: Newport Daily News, The (RI)
Copyright: 2005 The Newport Daily News
Contact:  http://www.newportdailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1808
Author: Joe Baker, Daily News staff
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

R.I. HOUSE TO VOTE ON MARIJUANA VETO

The House of Representatives is expected to meet early Tuesday, the
first day of the 2006 legislative session, to override the governor's
veto of medical marijuana legislation.

Last year, both the House and Senate overwhelmingly approved the
legislation, but Gov. Donald L. Carcieri vetoed the bill. The Senate
easily overrode the veto before the legislature recessed for the year.
House leaders said at the time that they expected the General Assembly
to return sometime in September to consider several of the governor's
vetoes, but it never did.

Since the legislature recessed but did not adjourn the 2005 session,
the House can still consider overriding any vetoes. House leaders have
sent letters to all representatives informing them of their intent to
override the medical marijuana veto at 2 p.m. Tuesday, according to
one legislative staffer. The regular 2006 session is scheduled to
begin at 4 p.m.

If the House joins the Senate in overriding Carcieri's veto, Rhode
Island would become the 11th state in the country to legalize
marijuana use. The House needs a 60 percent margin to override the
veto. The House originally approved the bill by a 51-10 vote.

"We're obviously very excited about it," said Christopher A. Butler,
executive director of AIDS Project Rhode Island. "It will provide
much-needed relief for people."

The legislation would allow doctors to prescribe marijuana for
patients with serious debilitating diseases including cancer, multiple
sclerosis, AIDS and Lou Gehrig's disease. Once the state Department of
Health is notified by the doctor of that prescription, it would issue
identification cards to the patient and up to two caregivers, who
would be able to help the patient procure marijuana.

Although the law would exempt the patient and caregivers from
prosecution for possessing marijuana, it would not exempt those who
sell the drug to the patient or caregiver.

Approved patients would be able to possess up to 2.5 ounces of "usable
marijuana," which would not include stems and seeds, or grow up to 12
marijuana plants at home for their own personal use. The bill would
require the Department of Health to issue a progress report on the law
to the General Assembly by January 2007.

The law would expire June 30, 2007, unless renewed by the
legislature.

California was the first state to enact a medical marijuana law in
1996. Since then Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada,
Oregon, Vermont and Washington have enacted similar
legislation.

All but Hawaii and Vermont enacted their laws through voter-approved
ballot initiatives. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake