The Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team, or DMAT, conducted recent training and has ordered 300 doses of Narcan for the state police. With the death toll from Rhode Island's ongoing drug overdose epidemic continuing to rise, the State Police on Friday announced the full deployment of Narcan to state troopers. "If Narcan can save even one life, then it is incumbent upon us to have it available and for our troopers to be trained in its administration," said Col. Steven O'Donnell, superintendent of the state police. "Narcan will keep someone alive long enough for rescue personnel to respond, provide additional medical assistance, and transport the victim to the hospital. It's the right thing to do." [continues 194 words]
With the selection announcement drawing near, municipalities, businesses and neighborhoods are bracing themselves in the event that a compassion center may be coming to the area. Three of the 15 compassion center applicants have proposed sites in Warwick, one of which may be chosen as the first center to sell marijuana to patients in the state's growing medical-marijuana program. "Obviously, the city has concerns about such a business and we have made suggestions that a proposed center should really be part of a larger medical facility and have the requisite amount of medical supervision as well," said Mayor Scott Avedisian. [continues 701 words]
The Senate recently voted 29-6 to pass legislation allowing the establishment of marijuana dispensaries in order to provide a safe venue for patients prescribed medical marijuana to obtain the drug. Sponsored by Senator Rhoda Perry (D-Dist. 3), the bill would fill a hole in current law whereby patients prescribed medical marijuana are unable to safely obtain it. Perry sponsored the bill that created Rhode Island's medical marijuana program two years ago along with House sponsor Rep. Thomas C. Slater (D-Dist. 10). He is also sponsoring the dispensary legislation this year in the House version of the bill, H-7888. The House Health, Education and Welfare Committee held that bill for further study in early April. [continues 399 words]
My name is no longer Mommy or simple Kel. My name is Kelly who suffers from fibromyalga, Multiple Sclerosis and pain from hell. It is hard to wake up and put a smile on my face. When at times my world is a very dark place. My husband and children can light up my life.... I do my best I can to be a wonderful mother and loving wife. My illnesses are known as the beast within... However smoking marijuana helps me fight the battle to win. [continues 320 words]
Thank you for your article on the latest hearing on making the medical marijuana law permanent ("Lawmakers here impassioned plea to extend medical marijuana bill," April 3). As your article mentioned, I was one of the many patients who spoke in favor of the bill. I am deeply disturbed by the state police's claim that their opposition to the bill is somehow based on concern for patients. I was assaulted once while obtaining my medicine on the criminal market. Let there be no mistake: This law dramatically decreases the chance that patients will have to get our medicine from drug dealers. [continues 138 words]
Nearly two-dozen people crowded into a small and stuffy hearing room at the Rhode Island State House last Wednesday. Some came in wheelchairs, while others used white canes to guide them. They came to ask lawmakers to make Rhode Island's medical marijuana law permanent. Right now, the law is set to expire on June 30, 2007. On that date, nearly 250 patients licensed by the state health department will lose their legal privilege to use pot to help them manage the pain of serious diseases, including cancer, AIDS, MS and glaucoma. [continues 408 words]
Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the General Assembly last week. For more information on any of these items visit www.rilin.state.ri.us/News. House Approves Medical Marijuana Bill The House approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Thomas C. Slater (D-Dist. 10, Providence) to allow the medicinal use of marijuana in Rhode Island. The House was also scheduled to take up the Senate version of the bill, sponsored by Sen. Rhoda E. Perry (D-Dist. 3, Providence), Friday. The Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act (2005-H 6052Aaa and 2005-S 0710Aaa) would protect patients with debilitating medical conditions, and their physicians and primary caregivers from arrest and prosecution under state law if they engage in the medical use of marijuana. [end]
The Rhode Island Senate is set to vote on a bill today that would allow the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. The vote comes only a day after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal authorities may prosecute people for using medical marijuana even if state law protects them from prosecution. In spite of the ruling, the Senate plans to vote on the bill. "We've had it [the ruling] checked out by various lawyers as well as the ACLU at the national level the case today is solely the courts telling the Federal government they have a right to enforce the law," Senate Press Secretary Greg Pare said. "It provides states an even more compelling reason to enact laws to protect those suffering from chronic illnesses." [continues 650 words]
The recent introduction of medical marijuana bills by of 60 percent of the Rhode Island General Assembly gives me great hope. As an advocate for people living with HIV and AIDS and as executive director of the oldest AIDS organization in Rhode Island, I have seen how important this bill is. AIDS Project Rhode Island is just one of many groups and medical experts supporting this sensible, humane legislation. We are joined by the Rhode Island Medical Society, the Rhode Island State Nurses Association and Dr. Kenneth Mayer, head of the Brown University AIDS Program, among many others. [continues 564 words]
Rhode Islanders who have a prescription from their doctors may soon be able to possess marijuana for medical use without worrying about the state enforcing current controlled substance laws. Senator Rhoda Perry of Providence introduced the Medical Marijuana Act legislation to the Rhode Island General Assembly last week and said yesterday there is majority support in the House and she expects growing support in the Senate to carry the bill through to the governor1s desk. Fifty out of the 75 House members have already expressed support for the bill and 18 of the 38 senators have also favored it, she said. [continues 409 words]
To the Editor: The story of Rhonda O'Donnell's battle with multiple sclerosis and for legal access to medical marijuana was inspiring ("In pain, RN seeks legal relief from marijuana," June 17). The evidence that marijuana provides meaningful relief from the suffering caused by MS continues to grow. Last December, a British study showed that a marijuana extract provided relief from MS-related pain and muscle spasticity. A survey of Canadian MS patients reported in this month's issue of the journal "Neurology" found that one out of seven used marijuana for treatment of symptoms. Patients reported relief of pain, muscle spasms, stiffness and sleep disturbances. [continues 72 words]
Choking back tears, Rhonda O'Donnell had to pause and regain her composure. "I'm a nurse," she said, unable to restrain her emotions. "I'm sorry," O'Donnell continued, as she tried to stop crying. "I really miss my work." In October it will have been 10 years since O'Donnell was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disease that slowly attacks the central nervous system and robs the body of muscle control. Faced with excruciating pain, especially in her legs, O'Donnell has tried various pharmaceutical interventions, even chemotherapy. But the 41-year-old Norfolk Avenue resident has been busy researching a non-traditional form of treatment that she strongly advocates, traveling to the State House to testify on its medicinal value - marijuana. [continues 985 words]
To the Editor: State legislators in the General Assembly currently have before them an important bill that concerns all families in our community. Thousands of Rhode Islanders suffer from multiple sclerosis, cancer, HIV/AIDS and other serious conditions. Many of them use medical marijuana to alleviate their suffering. These people are not criminals, and certainly shouldn't be treated as such. The Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Act would legally protect seriously ill and disabled people who use medical marijuana with their doctors' approval. I'm a 41-year-old registered nurse and mother of two who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 10 years ago. If I decide to use medical marijuana to treat the muscle pain and spasticity I endure every day as a result of my disease, I shouldn't have to fear being arrested, fined or jailed for doing so - especially since I have my doctor's recommendation. [continues 261 words]
As an American citizen, I am appalled at the Supreme Court's recent approval of random drug testing for public high school students who want to participate in extracurricular activities. After-school programs are an effective way to keep high-risk teenagers off of the streets in the critical hours between the end of the school day and the time that their parents come home from work. Now, because of the Supreme Court's decision, these same high-risk teens will be turned towards the streets where they are more likely to experiment with drugs, instead of being welcomed into safe, productive, and effective learning environments. [continues 83 words]
