Pubdate: Thu, 03 May 2007
Source: Pawtucket Times (RI)
Copyright: 2007 The Pawtucket Times
Contact:  http://www.pawtuckettimes.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1286
Author: Jim Baron
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

HOUSE MAKES MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW PERMANENT

PROVIDENCE - By a vote of 49-12, more than enough to override an 
expected veto, the House of Representatives Wednesday approved making 
Rhode Island's medical marijuana law permanent, with a few minor 
amendments. The Senate is scheduled to take up an identical bill 
today and leaders say it is expected to pass easily in that chamber 
as well. At a Statehouse news conference Wednesday, Gov. Donald 
Carcieri, who vetoed the original legislation two years ago, repeated 
his opposition and suggested another veto is likely. "It's illegal," 
Carcieri said in response to a question, "the Supreme Court has ruled 
it is illegal.

We are putting people in a position of having to acquire this illegally.

I don't know why as a state we think this is a good thing to do. I 
understand the empathy for people in pain and suffering who get some 
relief from this, but I think from a public policy standpoint it is 
really ill-advised. Asked if he would veto the legislation a second 
time, Carcieri said, "let's see if they make any changes.

If it is the same as it was the last time, it is probably going to 
get the same result." Rep. Thomas Slater, who championed the 
legislation in the House and whose name is in the title of the bill, 
said if the state tried to try to dispense the drug to certified 
patients so they did not have to buy it on the street as opponents 
including Carcieri worried about, that is what would make the program 
run afoul of the federal government. Federal drug enforcement 
officials have said they are not going to devote resources to 
individuals growing a few plants for their own medical use, Slater 
said, "but if we did try to dispense it in dispensaries, they would 
be all over the place like they are in California. What we would do 
is shine a light on ourselves and we would have the federal 
government in here confiscating all the marijuana." During the floor 
debate, Johnston Rep. Stephen Ucci said he was concerned that the 
House was going to debate the issue on the same day that the Bishop 
Hendricken boys high school basketball team was in the chamber to be 
honored for winning a championship. "This bill legalizes an act that 
begins with an illegal act," Ucci said. "You have buy it illegally." 
The bill allows an individual who is certified by a physician as 
having a debilitating medical condition such as cancer, AIDS or 
multiple sclerosis to obtain a card from the state health department 
that would protect them from arrest or prosecution if they possess 
2.5 ounces or less of "useable marijuana" or 12 plants.

The patients, many of whom are too sick to do their own cultivation 
or procuring of the drug can designate one or two "caregivers" to 
assist them with obtaining and using the drug. A caregiver can serve 
up to 5 patients, but he or she can possess no more than 24 plants or 
five ounces of the drug at any one time. A caregiver must be at least 
21 years of age and, under an amendment approved Wednesday, can not 
have a felony drug record.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman