Rob Kampia, executive director of the Washington, DC–based Marijuana Policy Project, which aggressively lobbied for the Rhode Island law, hailed the vote, saying, “[It] proves yet again that the movement to protect medical-marijuana patients from arrest is unstoppable. Last June, White House drug czar John Walters proclaimed ‘the end of medical marijuana as a political issue’ . . . but he couldn’t have been more wrong. . . . We will continue to roll back the government’s war on the sick and the dying, and the White House drug czar can’t stop us any more than he can make water flow uphill.”
As for Massachusetts, the public seems to be in favor of medical marijuana — all five non-binding medical-marijuana initiatives on ballots across the state in 2004 passed by at least a two-to-one margin. There are two medical-marijuana bills now sitting in committee in both the House and the Senate. And if one of them does wind up on Mitt Romney’s desk, it’s likely the legislature will be pushing to override him as well.
Related:
Chafee’s number, Up in smoke?, Portland’s medical-pot prognosis: Keep patients waiting, More 
- Chafee’s number
This week, we continue with a running feature, the Gubernatorial Scorecard. Every so often, we'll rate Lincoln Chafee from 1 to 10 on both the politics and substance of his most recent maneuverings.
- Up in smoke?
Ten months after President Obama took office, his Justice Department issued a remarkable directive.
- Portland’s medical-pot prognosis: Keep patients waiting
The bloom is off the buds, that's for sure.
- Prescription Pothole
It seems strange to say that politicians lack the courage to pass a bill that's favored by the vast majority of their constituents. But that's where Massachusetts stands on its long, strange trip to legalize distribution of medically prescribed marijuana.
- Equal rites?
New England has made a pretty good case, in recent years, for America's capital of queer.
- Eyes on the prize
We interrupt the Lincoln Chafee buzz fest to bring you this little nugget of news: there are a few Democrats who'd like to be governor, too.
- How much do lobbyists pay to get their way?
In 2008, corporations spent more than $3 million to hire lobbyists to protect their interests at the Rhode Island State House.
- Health-care's big moneyman in New England
Lifespan CEO George Vecchione's compensation is tops in the region
- A bad development
The most telling thing about this week's report on the R.I. Economic Development Corporation may be how many people didn't want to talk about it
- Going to pot
The state's medical-marijuana laws, which govern how patients can access pot for medical purposes, is on the brink of significant change.
- Is the party over for the GOP in RI?
In a state known for its political obsessions, there is remarkably little in the way of rabid protest here.
- Less
Topics:
This Just In
, Mitt Romney, U.S. Government, Anthony Pettigrew, More
, Mitt Romney, U.S. Government, Anthony Pettigrew, Gonzales Raich, John Walters, Robert Watson, Thomas Slater, Marijuana Policy Project, Rhode Island House of Representatives, Rhode Island State Senate, Less
