Pubdate: Mon, 24 Feb 2014
Source: Providence Journal, The (RI)
Copyright: 2014 The Providence Journal Company
Contact:  http://www.projo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/352
Author: W. Zachary Malinowski

R.I. GOVERNOR CHAFEE OPEN TO EXPLORING POT LEGALIZATION FOR RECREATIONAL USE

It appears that Governor Chafee may be warming to the concept of 
legalizing and regulating marijuana in Rhode Island as a potential 
source of tax revenue.

Over the weekend, Chafee, a Democrat, attended the National Governors 
Association's winter meeting in Washington, D.C., and listened to 
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, also a Democrat, talk about the 
legalization of marijuana in his state that is expected to generate 
more than $100 million in taxes and regulatory fees this year.

Hickenlooper had been an opponent of legalization, but state voters 
approved it in a 2012 referendum.

Chafee told a reporter from Bloomberg News that Colorado's fiscal 
forecast "opened a lot of eyes" and has fostered a discussion on 
whether to "regulate and tax it in these tough times."

Colorado and Washington are the only two states that have legalized 
and regulated marijuana sales for those at least 21 years old. Rhode 
Island is one of 20 states and the District of Columbia with medical 
marijuana laws that permit use of the drug by patients suffering from 
chronic pain and other ailments.

Only those patients approved by the state are allowed to buy the drug 
in Rhode Island from two dispensaries, or from caregivers, those 
allowed by the state to grow up to 24 marijuana plants and provide 
the cannabis to as many as five patients.

There are about 7,000 patients in the Rhode Island medical marijuana 
program and more than 5,000 caregivers.

Chafee told the Bloomberg News reporter that he would not rule out 
signing legislation that calls for the legalization and regulation of 
marijuana. Rhode Island's economy has been struggling for several 
years, and the nation's smallest state has the highest unemployment 
rate - 9.1 percent.

"We'll see how these bills come out of the legislature," he said.

Chafee, through his spokeswoman, Faye Zuckerman, issued a statement 
on Monday: "The legislation to legalize marijuana is currently 
winding its way through the General Assembly. If it were to reach his 
desk, the governor would evaluate it at that time."

Jared Moffat, a Brown student and representative of Regulate Rhode 
Island, was pleased with Chafee's position.

"We are encouraged that Governor Chafee understands the failures of 
the war on drugs and has an open mind to regulate marijuana as 
Colorado and Washington have done," he said.

Chafee's comments come less than two weeks after Sen. Joshua Miller, 
D-Cranston, and Rep. Edith H. Ajello, D-Providence, introduced 
legislation that would allow adults 21 and older to possess up to an 
ounce of marijuana and grow up to two plants in a locked space. They 
also said that the state should allow no more than 10 stores to sell the drug.

Revenues would be generated by taxes and a $50-per-ounce fee on the 
wholesale sale of marijuana from the cultivation site to a retailer. 
The stores would be taxed 10 percent on marijuana sales.

"Marijuana prohibition has been a long-term failure," said Miller in 
a statement. "Regulating marijuana would allow the product to be sold 
safely and responsibly by legitimate business in appropriate locations."

"Most Rhode Island voters agree it is time to end marijuana 
prohibition and start treating the product like alcohol," Ajello 
said. "Taxing marijuana sales will generate tens of millions of 
dollars in much-needed revenue for the state, a portion of which will 
be directed towards programs that treat and prevent alcohol and other 
substance abuse."

As more states have approved the sale of medical marijuana and 
legalization has taken hold in two states, the drug has seemingly 
become less controversial. Chafee's position also is quite a 
turnaround from his position three years ago when he delayed the 
opening of the state's marijuana dispensaries. He was fearful that 
the federal authorities mightraid them and arrest anyone affiliated 
with the businesses.

Marijuana remains a Schedule I drug in the same classification as 
heroin and LSD and is illegal under federal law. Nonetheless, the 
Obama administration has allowed the states to make their own 
decisions on allowing marijuana for medical and recreational use.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom