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January 04, 2006
Rhode Island becomes 11th state to legalize medical marijuana
Posted by Gary Storck
Wednesday, January 4, 2005
Rhode Island patients had a lot to celebrate on January 3rd when the state's House of Representatives, the equivalent of Wisconsin's Assembly, voted to overturn a veto by the state's governor.
As the Providence Journal reported today:
PROVIDENCE -- Rhode Island became the 11th state yesterday to allow the use of marijuana to ease the pain of people suffering from serious and chronic illnesses such as AIDS and cancer.Patients whose doctors or caregivers recommend marijuana will soon be able to possess up to 12 plants, or 2.5 ounces of marijuana. The new law protects them from arrest under state law, but does nothing to stop federal prosecution, leaving some critics to call the measure nothing more than a symbolic act.
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While Rhode Island's new law has the same limit for processed cannabis as Wisconsin's AB-740, unlike the amended version, it allows cultivation of a dozen plants. AB-740 is silent on how medicine would be acquired.
As Wisconsin patients wait for Assembly Health committee members to vote, hopes are that the overwhelming support demonstrated by Rhode Island lawmakers will inspire some compassion by committee members.
Other states are vying with Wisconsin to be 12th, and despite progress here, each day the bill does not proceed means one less day remaining this session. Only time will tell if state lawmakers are ready to put aside politics and pass this critical health care bill.
Posted by Gary at January 4, 2006 10:29 AM
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