Not so fast on medical marijuana

Published Jul 01 2008, 09:32 AM by Ian Donnis

Considering the socially conservative ethos of the General Assembly, it was somewhat counter-intuitive when the legislature overrode Governor Carcieri's veto of a medical marijuana bill a few years back.

Yet if the Ocean State's smallness was a key role in the bill's passage, Smith Hill is still reluctant to sign off on the actual distribution of medical marijuana. Instead, in the last week of the session, the General Assembly approved a study of "compassion centers":

Jesse Stout, executive director of the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition, an advocacy group, describes the commission as a positive thing.

“This study could really tip the balance,” Stout says. “We’re very optimistic about a bill’s passage in 2009, and the opening of compassion centers in Rhode Island by 2010.” ....

The bottom line, however, is that Rhode Island’s marijuana medical law remains a half-measure, even with an absence of the problems originally predicted by opponents.

George Des Roches has been a participant in the state’s medicinal marijuana program for one year. He suffers from Marfan’s syndrome, a connective tissue disorder, and he has faced the business end of a gun while buying marijuana on the street.

Des Roches estimates the cost involved in growing marijuana at between $3000 and $5000, for proper lights and equipment.

“Considering some of these patients can’t care for themselves, that’s a pretty daunting task,” he says, emphasizing the benefits of an autonomous compassion center. And pointing to those like himself, he adds, “This isn’t just a bunch of people getting stoned.”

Filed Under: General Assembly, Drug policy

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3 Comments

joe bernstein said:

Growing marijuana is commonplace in the Netherlands-there are "grow" supply shops all over Amsterdam.It can't really cost that much or so many people wouldn't be doing it.

July 1, 2008 9:59 AM
rich said:

How can Rhode Island lawmakers even consider having a law on the books that still makes people go out into the streets and buy medicine as if they were some sort of criminal? The legislature needs to pick up the pace on this one. They are certainly going in the right direction; but they need to work harder to make this law a reality--- not just a fairy tale.

July 2, 2008 9:49 AM
Richard Steeb said:

Requiring the ill to grow their own medicine is bizarre and untenable.

There is no reason to deny any adult eligible to purchase beer and cigarettes-- much less patients with their physician's assent-- the ability to acquire their kind herb in the same way.

This Glaucoma patient visits Oaksterdam regularly, and enjoys it.

It is time to take George Washington's advice and "sow it everywhere".

-San Jose, California

July 3, 2008 10:28 AM

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Not so fast on medical marijuana

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joe bernstein said:

rich said:

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