Pubdate: Sat, 13 Jun 2009
Source: Providence Journal, The (RI)
Copyright: 2009 The Providence Journal Company
Contact:  http://www.projo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/352
Author: Katherine Gregg, Journal State House Bureau
Note: With reports from Cynthia Needham, Journal State House Bureau; 
and Felice J. Freyer, Journal Medical Writer.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

CARCIERI VETOES BILL ALLOWING MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

PROVIDENCE -- 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.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake