Pubdate: Fri, 30 Dec 2005
Source: Pawtucket Times (RI)
Copyright: 2005 The Pawtucket Times
Contact:  http://www.pawtuckettimes.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1286
Author: Jim Baron, Times staff reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

REPS FACE 'POT' VETO

PROVIDENCE -- Giving proof to Yogi Berra's adage that "it ain't over
'til it's over," the 2005 House of Representatives will meet one last
time at the start of the new year to complete the override of Gov.
Donald Carcieri's veto of a medical marijuana bill. House Speaker
William Murphy will gavel the 2005 session to order one last time at 2
p.m. next Tuesday for the override and formal adjournment of the
session, which closes out all business from last year. Then the 2006
session will convene at 4 p.m.

When the House and Senate broke for the summer, each chamber
technically "recessed" rather than "adjourning," which would have
foreclosed coming back for other business.

The Senate will gather at 4 p.m. next Tuesday and its first order of
business will be adjouring the 2005 session.

"The Speaker told me we will come in for the override" of the
marijuana legislation, Providence Rep. Thomas Slater said Thursday,
adding that House members are being informed by mail of the early
override session.

Murphy spokesman Larry Berman would not confirm or deny Slater's
statements.

There are other gubernatorial vetoes outstanding -- the two most
prominent being a bill to increase the state minimum wage and another
to allow child care providers to unionize to bargain collectively
without becoming state employees -- but The Times has learned that the
medical marijuana veto will be the only one taken up.

Because the Senate already voted to override the veto of the medical
marijuana bill before the summer recess, if the House musters the
support of three-fifths of the members present and voting -- 45 if all
75 members show up -- the bill automatically becomes law. The final
version of the bill passed the House in June on a 52-10 vote.

"I am 90 percent sure we have the votes to override," Slater said,
"you're never 100 percent positive."

The measure eliminates penalties, fines and forfeiture connected with
marijuana posession of up to 2.5 ounces for a patient (recommended by
a doctor and registered with the Department of Health) with a
"debilitating medical condition" and two principal caregivers. The law
makes no provision for a legal way to obtain the drug.

Slater said several of the patients who testified on behalf of the
bill during committee hearings earlier this year will be invited to
watch the override and will hold a press conference afterward.

The bill calls for the Department of Health to promulgate rules and
regulations within 90 days of the effective date of the legislation.
The law is set to expire June 30, 2007, unless it is renewed by the
General Assembly before that time.

"Governor Carcieri continues to share the Rhode Island law enforcement
community's concern about this legislation," said Carcieri spokesman
Jeff Neal. "He continues to oppose the bill for all the reasons
mentioned in his veto message."

In that message, Carcieri said, "The amount of marijuana this bill
authorizes is staggering. This bill will make marijuana more available
to children in Rhode Island." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake