cannabisnews.com: Medical Marijuana Goes Back To Committee Medical Marijuana Goes Back To Committee Posted by CN Staff on May 13, 2008 at 16:55:24 PT By The Associated Press Source: Associated Press Providence, R.I. -- Rhode Island's Senate voted Tuesday to block a bill allowing nonprofit stores to sell marijuana to chronically ill patients after a last-minute revision banned patients from smoking while driving or being near children. Lawmakers voted 33-2 to send the bill back to a committee because the bill's sponsor, Sen. Rhoda Perry, considered the amendments offensive to chronically ill patients enrolled in Rhode Island's Medical Marijuana Program. She wants the amendment repealed. "It wasn't necessary and it's insulting," Perry said. Democrats hold a majority in the Senate, and Majority Leader Teresa Paiva-Weed said Perry's proposal will come up for another vote. She was not sure when. Rhode Island and 11 other states permit chronically ill patients to possess small amounts of marijuana for pain relief. The drug remains illegal under federal law. State lawmakers approved the Medical Marijuana Program in 2006, but they never explained how patients were supposed to legally buy the drug. Several patients have reported being assaulted when they tried to purchase marijuana from street dealers, said Rep. Thomas Slater, who's supporting an identical bill in the House. "People ... had to go into unsavory neighborhoods in order to get the marijuana because we have no center, we have no place for them to pick it up," said Slater, a Democrat. Under the proposal, up to three nonprofit stores would be allowed to sell marijuana to the more than 700 patients and caregivers registered with the state Department of Health. If approved by the Senate, the proposal would go to House lawmakers. Republican Gov. Don Carcieri previously vetoed Rhode Island's medical marijuana program because it conflicted with federal law, although lawmakers overturned his veto. Carcieri has not decided if he would veto the current proposal, his spokeswoman said. None of the dozen states that have legalized marijuana for pain relief have spelled out how patients are supposed to buy the drug, creating a legal vacuum, said Bruce Mirken, a spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, a nonprofit organization that advocates for decriminalizing marijuana. "We certainly think a system of regulated dispensaries are a good idea," Mirken said. New Mexico has come closest. Lawmakers approved a medical marijuana bill in 2007, but Gov. Bill Richardson has not decided whether to implement a state-licensed production and distribution system. State health officials there fear they could be prosecuted under federal law for distributing the drug. California legalized medical marijuana in 1996, but it never set up a system for buying the drug. In the absence of state regulation, marijuana dispensaries are overseen by local cities and towns. Some permit the dispensaries to operate, while others ban them. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration does not typically target sick patients, but its agents raided almost two dozen marijuana dispensaries in California in 2007. Federal authorities also sent letters to at least 30 landlords threatening to seize their property if they leased it to marijuana clinics. "We don't target the sick and dying, but marijuana is against federal law, and DEA enforces the federal law," said Special Agent Anthony Pettigrew, a spokesman for the DEA in Boston.Source: Associated Press (Wire)Published: Tuesday, May 13, 2008Copyright: 2008 The Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site:Marijuana Policy Projecthttp://www.mpp.org/R.I. Lawmakers Consider Allowing MMJ Storeshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23811.shtmlBill Would Create Marijuana Dispensarieshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23798.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #10 posted by FoM on May 15, 2008 at 11:38:49 PT AP: Rhode Island R.I. Senate To Vote on Expanding Medical Marijuana Program May 15, 2008 PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island's Senate plans to vote on a proposal allowing up to three nonprofit stores to sell marijuana to chronically ill patients registered with the state.The vote, originally set for Tuesday, was pushed back until Thursday after lawmakers fought over revisions that would ban patients from smoking marijuana near other people or inside motor vehicles.Sen. Rhoda Perry, the bill's sponsor, says the amendments are insulting to chronically ill patients and she wants them removed. But she says a compromise may be reached to satisfy people who have safety concerns.If approved, the bill would head to House lawmakers. Rhode Island became the eleventh state to legalize marijuana for pain relief in 2006. The drug remains illegal under federal law.Copyright: 2008 by The Associated Presshttp://www.eyewitnessnewstv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8330333&nav=F2DO [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on May 14, 2008 at 21:05:39 PT RevRayGreen Thank you for the video. I thought you were going to get blown away! [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Dankhank on May 14, 2008 at 18:37:43 PT movies up 'till now I haven't considered personal habits particularly germain to an actor's role, but can see why it may, in fact, be notable.I forgot to mention I got Tommy Chong's movie yesterday.So ...Johnny Appleweed, The Pineapple Express ... hmmmmmmmSHMe DID have a good segment re: Medicalbeen sharing American Drug War, now, for coupla weeks ... it is eye-opening ... left one for the editor of the local rag ... last week ...Great rally in Iowa, Rev ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by RevRayGreen on May 14, 2008 at 17:56:36 PT H&K 2 are frauds for the fact that the actual actors do not partake daily, maybe the writers are down, when it come to stoner comedy I prefer method actors/comedians. Sure I LMAO at HK1, but after finding out that they really don't, kinda sours the whole HK2 thing for me.(although Harold is for Obama I'll give him that) So far these will be the movies for me to get hyped for. I've seen SHM(excellent spotlight on the medi-chronics), next up I just got the 420 Specia.......(t-shirt/poster/DVD)delivered today aka/TommyChong.........next up after that will beJohnny Appleweed Totally Baked The Pineapple Express American Drug War looks good I've seen some clipsnow heres a movie with me in it, footage from this years GMJM DSM IOWA Iowa Global Marijuana March video [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Dankhank on May 14, 2008 at 17:05:31 PT something in the water round there ... recent movies that most here would likely enjoy that will not be shown in a theatre round here.SuperHigh Me Totally Baked Smiley Face Harold and Kumar escape Guantanamoand soon I will have all 4FTD [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on May 14, 2008 at 10:11:06 PT Dankhank I'm afraid to try to download now. My old computer started going bonkers after I tried before. My new computer is so nice and quiet that I figure buying rather then downloading will cause me less anxiety! LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Dankhank on May 14, 2008 at 10:08:25 PT got it ... SuperHighMe is excellent, and has a great logical ending ...Ya'll shall enjoy ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on May 14, 2008 at 05:52:34 PT R.I. Medical Marijuana Bill Blocked May 14, 2008http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=9e41b4f2-6680-49a0-97be-85f06e68519b [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on May 14, 2008 at 05:48:17 PT Movie Release Date Super High Me (2008)June 17, 2008http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0017INRFY/dvdtalk [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by The GCW on May 14, 2008 at 05:25:55 PT Meanwhile backatthe profitstores, Meanwhile backatthe profitstores, where the legal pharm workers exist,May 14, 8:12 AM EDTMore Americans are taking prescription medications By LINDA A. JOHNSON TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- For the first time, it appears that more than half of all insured Americans are taking prescription medicines regularly for chronic health problems, a study shows.The most widely used drugs are those to lower high blood pressure and cholesterol - problems often linked to heart disease, obesity and diabetes.CONT.http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MEDICATION_NATION?SITE=COFRI&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT [ Post Comment ] Post Comment