Medical marijuana movement loses a champion, Rep. Thomas Slater
The House sponsor of Rhode Island’s medical marijuana law, Rep. Thomas Slater, passed away today after a long battle with cancer. In addition to championing the needs of seriously ill patients who could benefit from medical marijuana, he was the tireless advocate of the needy in his district, from driving elderly constituents to the pharmacy or supermarket to sponsoring legislation for health care for uninsured children and affordable housing. In June, the Providence Journal published a moving profile of this amazing man, which you can read here.
Despite being ravaged by cancer, Rep. Slater continued to trek to the legislature this summer to ensure the passage of a bill to add nonprofit dispensaries, or “compassion centers,” to the The Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act. The initial law allowed patients or their caregivers to grow marijuana, but many testified that they risked violence buying their medicine on the streets. Rep. Slater’s heartfelt efforts paid off: His colleagues in the House unanimously voted to override Gov. Carcieri’s veto of the bill, and they then gave him a standing ovation. Three years earlier, they had voted to name the medical marijuana law in his honor. Only Rep. Slater voted against this gesture.
Rep. Slater will be deeply missed. But his legacy will live on. Thanks to his leadership, more than 500 seriously ill patients in Rhode Island can now use their medicine without fearing arrest. And, by the new year, the state will have registered a nonprofit to provide regulated, safe access to their medicine.
Tagged with: compassion centers and Medical Marijuana and Rep. Thomas Slater and Rhode Island by the author
8 comments
What a wonderful service to the public, the Honorable Thomas Slater has left his mark on MJ issues in the most supportive way. There’s no higher honor than to save lives and that’s just what he did.
RIP
RIP Thomas Slater. You’ve done good for humanity.
Honors.
I had the pleasure of hearing Rep. Slater stand up at the RI house committee hearing. I believe RIPAC has the video posted on youtube. You could hear the passion in his voice when he was pleading with his colleagues to forward the newly passed MMJ act (june 09) to the house to pass. I dont think a single person at the committee hearing ended up voting against him. He was a great friend to the community who will be greatly missed.
I do like coming on the website to see updates but every so often terrible news is all there is
RIP my Reforming friend. 300 GUN SATUTE!!!
Thank you our friend, you will be missed.
Another medical marijuana loss. RIP and thank you for your contribution.
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