cannabisnews.com: Carcieri Vetoes Bill Allowing MMJ Dispensaries
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Carcieri Vetoes Bill Allowing MMJ Dispensaries
Posted by CN Staff on June 12, 2009 at 19:44:42 PT
By Katherine Gregg, Journal State House Bureau
Source: Providence Journal
Providence, R.I. -- Republican Governor Carcieri has, as promised, vetoed legislation that would make Rhode Island the second state in the nation to allow state-licensed dispensaries to sell marijuana to the chronically and critically ill.In his first veto message of the year, Carcieri said: “Although the intent of the legislation is to allow consenting adults to use marijuana only for medicinal purposes based on illness, the increased availability, along with a complacent attitude, will no doubt result in increased usage, and will negatively impact the children of Rhode Island.”
However, the identical House and Senate versions of the marijuana-dispensary bill passed both chambers with enough votes to easily override the governor’s veto.In fact, the lead House sponsor — Rep. Thomas Slater — said both the Senate president and the House speaker have promised him they would override the veto, if necessary. Echoed the Senate sponsor, Rhoda E. Perry: “I believe we have the intent and the numbers to override the veto.”In an interview on Friday moments after the veto came down, Slater said he expects to start a medical marijuana protocol on his own doctor’s advice in the coming days in an effort to help relieve the symptoms of advanced breast cancer and stimulate his appetite.State law already allows doctors to prescribe marijuana for use by people with severe, chronic and debilitating illnesses, such as cancer, hepatitis C and HIV. As of April 30, there were 681 people registered to do so with the Department of Health.But that law, adopted in 2006, does not provide a legal avenue for any of these registered patients — or their 581 registered caregivers — to obtain the drug.“The principal problem that our patients had was their fear of dealing with the illegal market,” said Perry, D-Providence. “They were very frightened.”The vetoed legislation would allow the state health department to license up to three “compassion centers,” to provide marijuana to registered qualifying patients.“Regardless of licensing status with the state” Carcieri said anyone associated with the dispensaries would still be at risk for prosecution by the federal government, “while significantly complicating the responsibilities of state and local law enforcement officials.”He said the creation of the dispensaries would also foster “a public perception that Rhode Island is complacent towards drugs that are illegal in the United States, especially as Rhode Island has already experienced a recent significant increase in marijuana usage among persons 12 years and older.”He cited a survey by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that showed an increase in marijuana use in Rhode Island between 2006 and 2007. Among all people ages 12 and older surveyed in 2007, 16.1 percent said they had used marijuana within the past year, compared with 14.9 percent the year before. Marijuana use in Rhode Island is among the highest in the nation, greater than the national average of 10.2 percent.Perry said she was aware of the statistics, but did not believe they were a result of the legalization of marijuana for medical use.Earlier this year, New Mexico became the first and thus far, the only state to license nonprofit producers of medical marijuana.Late Friday, Senate spokesman Greg Pare confirmed leadership plans to hold an override vote before the session ends. House spokesman Larry Berman said no decision had been made by House leaders.— With reports from Cynthia Needham, Journal State House Bureau; and Felice J. Freyer, Journal Medical Writer.Source: Providence Journal, The (RI)Author: Katherine Gregg, Journal State House Bureau Published: Saturday, June 13, 2009 Copyright: 2009 The Providence Journal CompanyContact: letters projo.comWebsite: http://www.projo.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/oNImfSt9Related Articles: Assembly, In Veto-Proof Votes, OKs Dispensarieshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24862.shtmlRI Senate Passes Medical Marijuana Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24861.shtml
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on June 16, 2009 at 14:12:09 PT
RI: Care Centers Can Dispense Medical Marijuana
By Donita NaylorJune 16, 2009PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The House and Senate on Tuesday each overrode Governor Carcieri's veto of legislation allowing three "compassion centers" to dispense medical marijuana.The Senate vote was 35 to 3. The House vote was unanimous, 67 to 0.
For the bill to become law, both houses were required to overide the veto of their own and the other house's bill. The measure is now in effect.Last Friday, Carcieri vetoed legislation that would allow three "compassion centers," to dispense marijuana prescribed for people with severe, chronic and debilitating illnesses such as cancer, hepatitis C and HIV. As of April 30, the state had registered 681 such patients and 581 caregivers, all of whom have no legal way to obtain the drug.Three days before, the Senate voted 31 to 2 to allow the dispensaries. In late May, the House voted 63 to 5 to allow them. Both votes were easily beyond the three-fifths majority needed to override a veto.In vetoing the bills, Carcieri said he thought "the increased availability, along with a complacent attitude, will no doubt result in increased usage, and will negatively impact the children of Rhode Island" and complicate the jobs of law enforcement officers.New Mexico this year became the first state to license nonprofit producers of medical marijuana.With reports from Cynthia Needham and Steve Peopleshttp://newsblog.projo.com/2009/06/hold-overrides.html
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on June 13, 2009 at 16:51:32 PT
konagold
I don't know how to buy food without money. We pay alot in taxes but I really don't mind. I do hope we get public health care so the near 50 million people who don't have health insurance (I'm one of them) can get care when they are sick. I don't look too far ahead anymore since I am getting older. I know what ever you have in life you can't take it with you so money is important for essentials to me only. Stuff is stuff.
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Comment #13 posted by konagold on June 13, 2009 at 16:39:16 PT
money and credit are imaginary faith based frauds
money is an ideaas such money is only worth what you think it isthe more zeros to the right of a 1 the more imaginary money is when a bank has a dollar in reserve it is allowed to loan 10 thus it makes up money out of thin airGovernment makes money out of thin air regularlywe have entitlement programs where we have promised $53 trillion dollars thats 176,000 for every man woman and child in the contryare you ready to fork what you owe over yet??so sooner or later we loose faith in the make believe value of currency it becomes worth less and less until hyper inflation kicks in In Germany in the 1920's it got so that pay increases happened three times a day because the value of the currency fell so fast
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on June 13, 2009 at 16:08:19 PT
konagold
I'm not sure what you mean but I have always believed that inflation will drive up the cost of living. Pay rates won't keep up. The only thing that can help is a home and staying in it practically your whole life. Inflation has tripled the value of our home in the last 30 years. We weren't affected by the runaway prices on homes like in certain areas. The only thing that is real is real property and I mean a home or land. I don't believe in gambling and that is what the stock market seems to be to me. I thought of another thing about China. As long as we produce food like we do China needs us.
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Comment #11 posted by konagold on June 13, 2009 at 15:50:31 PT:
FOM no worries
"We all know China owns us and if they call the money due we will never be the same."I've been re-reading Atlas Shrugged lately [last time was 40 years ago] and don't worry about the Chinese calling our IOU'sthe answer is predeterminedrun away inflationit works the same way it worked in Germany after WWIhyper inflation kicks in, it takers a wheelbarrow of cash to buy breadall mortgage debt is wiped out as due to inflation, it only takes a day to earn what the mortgage costthis will also wipe out the national debt to the Chinese or any body else[Social Security Medicaid T-bonds and Bills]after a while the government issues a NEW currency worth a trillion old dollars for each NEW dollar which is just what they did a decade before Hitler and it worked else how could Germany have made all those tanks and airplanes prior to WW2??
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Comment #10 posted by NikoKun on June 13, 2009 at 09:14:56 PT
Another time wasting governer?
In situations when the senate clearly has enough votes to override a veto, and states intent that they will override it... Why the hell is the governor wasting our time, tax payer time, and patient's time, by vetoing this.His bullshit ideals just don't stand up to reality, and now they'll get in the way as much as possible. Wasting as much time as possible.. -_-
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Comment #9 posted by runruff on June 13, 2009 at 08:16:35 PT
Rep. Mark Souder-R Ind.
Mr. Smoke Bubble Man. Talk about your smoke and mirrors presentation. I wish I had taped that dog and pony show for posterity!Mark is still in there somewhere though he is being very uncharacteristically quiet on the subject. Maybe after that last election he is afraid to peep?
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on June 13, 2009 at 07:56:11 PT
BGreen
I didn't make the connection. Thank you. I watch the Rachel Maddow Show every night and I saw that. I couldn't believe what he said to the Chinese. We all know China owns us and if they call the money due we will never be the same.
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Comment #7 posted by BGreen on June 13, 2009 at 07:34:47 PT
Rep. Mark Kirk is a TRAITOR to the US
He's the nut-job Rachel Maddow talked about on last night's episode of her show.This traitor (IMHO) went to China and told the Chinese leaders that they shouldn't trust the economic numbers coming from the US Government! The economic stability of our Country was put in jeopardy by this idiot for political reasons. For an elected representative to go to our largest creditor and in essence call the President of the United States a liar is as treasonous an action as I've ever heard of.Now, Rep. Kirk has further proven that he is a danger to the safety and welfare of the citizens of the US.No offense to our friends in Illinois, but WTF is with some of these politicians from your state?My condolences because you've got some dregs of society in public office up there.The Reverend Bud Green
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on June 13, 2009 at 07:32:52 PT
Just a Comment
I really am very calm about the direction we are going. It use to be one step forward and two steps back but now it seems like two steps forward and only one step back. We have a long way to go but at least we are finally moving forward.I hope everyone has a great weekend!
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Comment #5 posted by kaptinemo on June 13, 2009 at 06:12:31 PT:
Dinosaurs in the tar pit, wailing and flailing
Which just speeds their sinking into irrelevancy. “Although the intent of the legislation is to allow consenting adults to use marijuana only for medicinal purposes based on illness, the increased availability, along with a complacent attitude, will no doubt result in increased usage, and will negatively impact the children of Rhode Island.” (Emphasis mine - k.)This is a variation of the culture warrior meme about 'amotivational syndrome' and 'productivity'. The worker drones must be kept in their places! They must not get uppity and reclaim control over their bodies, or we can't expect them to follow us blindly! They must be frightened that they stand to lose their livelihoods to be made to do what we, the Masters of Capital, want! Well, that 'complacent attitude' is mirrored in the polls, pol. The people are for it, you stand in its' way, and now you'll be publicly humiliated for being vetoed, yourself, when you should have accepted your defeat more gracefully.These Burkean Repubs think of themselves as Horatius at the Bridge (http://www.kidsread.net/Horatio.htm) in the culture wars, defending all that's sacred, when in fact they're just a bunch of dowdy old fools, like the crazy uncle or aunt some families have to take care of, that kind that are usually kept out of sight to prevent public embarrassment from their looney mutterings and ranting. And we pay their salaries? WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR RAVING IDIOTS IN OFFICE ANY MORE. And it's time the public let them know that.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on June 13, 2009 at 05:28:37 PT
Bill Would Get Tough on High-THC Pot
By Art Golab, Staff Reporter June 13, 2009Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) wants to increase penalties for high-potency pot.Legislation he introduced Friday would boost penalties for the distribution or sale of pot containing more than 15 percent THC, the potent ingredient in marijuana. "The amount of THC that teenagers are being exposed to is very different than the marijuana you may have run across in the 1960s or 1970s," Kirk said.But Bryan Brickner, a co-founder of the Illinois chapter of the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws said the law would target medical users. "He's saying we want you to use the lower grade stuff -- so you have to smoke more just to get the same amount of relief."The Illinois Senate last month approved a bill to legalize medical use of marijuana. Copyright: 2009 Digital Chicago, Inc.http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/1621171,CST-NWS-weed13.article
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Comment #3 posted by The GCW on June 13, 2009 at 05:13:10 PT
US CO: Breck group files to change marijuana laws
US CO: Breck group files to change marijuana laws
Webpage: http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20090613/NEWS/906129990/1078&ParentProfile=1055Pubdate: 13 June 2009Source: Summit Daily News (CO)
Author: CODY R. OLIVAS
Breck group files to change marijuana laws
BRECKENRIDGE — A group called Sensible Breckenridge is working to give town voters the chance to change local marijuana laws. The group plans to gather signatures for a ballot initiative for the November election. The aim would be an ordinance to remove all criminal penalties from Breckenridge's town code for the private use of marijuana, under one ounce, by adults 21 and older. Smoking in public and drugged driving would remain illegal. Breckenridge's Chief of Police Rick Holman opposes the initiative. “I worry about the collateral affect of the youth of the community,” he said.If the initiative did pass, marijuana would still be illegal under Colorado State law and federal law. Holman said his department would have the discretion to enforce those laws, but wouldn't comment if they would use that discretion because he said he didn't know. “Obviously we're a police department that's here to service the needs of the community and often times cater toward those needs and what we see as priorities,” Holman said. The initiative wouldn't affect the Sheriff's Department, which is bound to uphold state law.The petitioners' committee filing the affidavit is comprised of a number of local leaders including Breckenridge Town Councilman Jeffrey Bergeron and local attorney Sean McAllister. “It's a cause I believe in, and I think the initiative reflects the will of the people of Breck,” Bergeron said. “I don't think there's any public safety concerns in regards to an adult possessing less than one ounce of marijuana.”“The main issue is marijuana is safer than alcohol,” said Sensible Breckenridge's Josh Kappel. “Alcohol is far more toxic than marijuana; there has never been a death reported from a marijuana overdose,” said Mason Tvert, co-author of the forthcoming book, “Marijuana is Safer: So Why do We Drive People to Drink?”Holman said they're both problematic. “It's no safer to get behind the wheel of a car if you smoke a joint than drink,” he said. Although during winter nights, when more people are in Breckenridge, Holman said drinking is the primary problem. CONT:
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Comment #2 posted by GeoChemist on June 13, 2009 at 04:46:19 PT
Good morning everyone
The repuDs will never get it...overwhelming (nationwide) public, you know THE PEOPLE, support....a veto that will be null and void and come the next relevant election cycle, he will be unemployed...........I really feel even if it were drawn in kindergarten-like picture form the repuDs STILL wouldn't get it.......
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Comment #1 posted by EAH on June 12, 2009 at 20:57:00 PT:
A cowardly Governor spouting myths and BS.
First of all no physician prescribes, they recommend. “Although the intent of the legislation is to allow consenting adults to use marijuana only for medicinal purposes based on illness, the increased availability, along with a complacent attitude, will no doubt result in increased usage, and will negatively impact the children of Rhode Island.” The intent is not to allow, you moron, that already exists. The intent is to create a a means by which these patients WHO ALREADY ARE ALLOWED to use cannabis to obtain it safely, without being forced to seek out a black market source. Somehow you don't seem equally concerned that alcohol is widely available, or for that matter such pain medications Vicodin and Oxycontin.
It's about SAFE ACCESS. Licensed dispensaries will not suddenly make cannabis available to Rhodes Island's children.The Federal Government has indicated that it will not prosecute medical dispensaries operating lawfully under state regulations. Your excuse is not relevant, besides, why not let the dispensary owners decide about that risk.I hope your veto is overridden.
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