cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana? Rhode Island Says Yes Medical Marijuana? Rhode Island Says Yes Posted by CN Staff on June 28, 2005 at 21:15:21 PT National News Source: New York Times The Rhode Island legislature passed a bill yesterday allowing the use of medical marijuana, three weeks after the Supreme Court ruled that federal authorities could prosecute those who use the drug for medicinal purposes, even in states with laws allowing it.The bill passed the State Senate by a vote of 33 to 1 last evening and will head to the desk of Gov. Donald L. Carcieri, who is likely to reject it. Supporters of the bill, which passed the House 52 to 10 last week, are confident they have the necessary three-fifths majority to override a veto and make Rhode Island the 11th state to authorize patients to use the drug. The law would allow those with a "debilitating medical condition," including cancer, glaucoma and AIDS, to receive a signed statement from their doctor stating they would benefit from marijuana. Patients and their caregivers would be entered into a registry kept by the State Department of Health.Patients, who must be Rhode Islanders, would receive a state registration card allowing them or their caregivers to grow up to 12 marijuana plants indoors or possess up to 2.5 ounces without being arrested. Doctors would be able to prescribe the drug for only five patients at a time. Source: New York Times (NY)Published: June 29, 2005Copyright: 2005 The New York Times Company Contact: letters nytimes.com Website: http://www.nytimes.com/ Related Articles:R.I. Close To A Vote To OK Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20908.shtmlHouse Passes Medical Marijuana Billhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20890.shtmlPanel OKs Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20873.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #10 posted by FoM on June 29, 2005 at 10:59:09 PT Medical Marijuana Moves To Rhode Island Governor Take Action Now! http://capwiz.com/norml2/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7765921Friends:We are writing to update you on the progress of medical marijuana legislation in Rhode Island. As we alerted you earlier this week, medical marijuana bills had passed both houses of the Rhode Island Legislature. Yesterday, a composite bill passed the Senate by a vote of 33-1. This Senate vote was the last legislative hurdle for medical marijuana in the Rhode Island Legislature. The bill will now be sent to Governor Carcieri's desk to be signed into law. The governor has threatened to veto the bill, despite the fact that it likely has enough support in the Legislature to override a veto. However, we are hoping that the Governor hears a clear message from his constituents that Rhode Islanders support medical marijuana. If you have not done so already, please send a pre-written letter to Governor Carcieri asking him to sign medical marijuana into law, by visiting: http://capwiz.com/norml2/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=7765921To help support NORML's state legislative efforts, please donate today at: https://secure.norml.org/join/NORML thanks you for your support and promises to keep you informed on the progress of medical marijuana in Rhode Island.Sincerely,Paul Armentano, Senior Policy Analyst NORML [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on June 29, 2005 at 10:00:21 PT Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians http://www.riafp.org/policybrief19.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on June 29, 2005 at 09:49:51 PT Rhode Island Population: 1,076,164 http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/44000.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on June 29, 2005 at 09:47:00 PT Max Flowers Let's hope they have lots of doctors for all those who will find benefits from Cannabis. Rhode Island is a very small state but maybe they have many doctors. I sure hope so. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Max Flowers on June 29, 2005 at 09:44:20 PT FoM It means that once he/she has prescribed/recommended cannabis for a total of five patients, he/se has to stop doing it. Pretty unfair if you ask me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on June 29, 2005 at 09:39:37 PT Only 5 at a Time I don't go to the doctor very often and not since 94 but way back then a doctor only saw one patient at a time!I'm kidding but what does that mean? [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by schmeff on June 29, 2005 at 09:33:23 PT Danger! Danger, Will Robinson! "Doctors would be able to prescribe the drug for only five patients at a time."No restrictions on how many patients at a time the Dr. can prescribe morphine, amphetamines and the botulism toxin, I presume. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on June 29, 2005 at 09:11:17 PT Press Release from The Drug Policy Alliance Rhode Island Legislature Approves Compassionate Use PolicyWednesday, June 29, 2005The list of states with medical marijuana laws is poised to grow by one after a vote in the Rhode Island Senate yesterday. Rhode Island's governor is planning to veto the bill but it passed in both houses of the legislature by a wide enough margin that it is expected to be veto-proof. A spokesman for Governor Carcieri has said he will likely veto the bill in light of the Raich Supreme Court decision earlier this month allowing the federal government to prosecute medical marijuana patients. Fortunately, Rhode Island legislators seem to have gotten the message that the Supreme Court ruling does not overturn state law, and are expected to come through for patients with the 3/5 majority required to override a veto. The bill passed the House 52-10 and the Senate 33-1. The legislation would establish a certification program run by the state Department of Health. Doctors would verify that a patient suffers from a medical condition such as cancer or AIDS that can be helped by marijuana, and the patient would be issued a state registration card giving him or her permission to possess up to 12 plants or 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana at any given time. Rhode Island hopes to avoid potential difficulties with regulation of its program by not allowing for dispensaries, and by stipulating that patients' marijuana be grown and stored indoors where very large quantities cannot easily be produced. The other states that allow patients access to medical marijuana are Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/062905rhodeislandmmj.cfm [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by potpal on June 29, 2005 at 04:15:13 PT Yeah yeah yeah A small state for man, a giant state for mankind (women too!) [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by jose melendez on June 29, 2005 at 02:46:48 PT OT, or perhaps not Think Mantra: "the most common drug for people seeking treatment" http://www.canada.com/health/story.html?id=ac431284-0ea9-4cf0-a357-f8383b2775b9 - - -Want Grant Funding? Think Fuelishhttp://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/230525_biofuel29.html [ Post Comment ] Post Comment