Senate Win for Rhode Island Compassion Centers Rounds Out Big Day for Medical Marijuana
We just got word that the Rhode Island Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill, 35-2, that would establish “compassion centers” to provide medical marijuana to qualified patients, making access for the seriously ill far safer and more reliable.
Just to recap, that means three huge victories for medical marijuana patients and advocates today. Earlier, the senates in New Hampshire and Minnesota both passed bills that would protect seriously ill patients from arrest for using medical marijuana with their doctor’s recommendation.
That brings all three states much closer to improving the lives of their seriously ill medical marijuana patients, but we aren’t there yet, so stay tuned.
Although a vote for a bill similar to those in Minnesota and New Hampshire by the Illinois Senate didn’t take place today, that’s not necessarily bad news. It gives the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Bill Haine, more time to build support among his colleagues after amending the bill to address the concerns made by some law enforcement officials.
Meanwhile, many of those same law enforcement officials and the drug-war supporting organization Educating Voices have announced a press conference at the Statehouse tomorrow at 10 a.m. Central to argue against Haine’s bill.
I mention their press conference because I think it’s important to air all sides of this debate. I also think it helps the cause of seriously ill patients who rely on medical marijuana for people to hear the rationale behind those who would continue to make them criminals.
Oh, Illinois residents, please let your representatives know it’s time to end the cruel, senseless war against medical marijuana patients. We’re close to ending it in Illinois, but they need your help.
Tagged with: drug warriors and events and Illinois and law enforcement and legislation and Minnesota and New Hampshire and patients and Rhode Island by the author
31 comments
Thanks, I think it is very important to let the opinions of all sides be heard, that is the only way people can make a truly informed choice. I have no doubt that when reasonable people are presented with all the facts and arguments from all corners on this issue, legalization will stand out as the obvious choice.
Moreover Mr Pundit, if the prohibitionists are given enough rope, they will surely hang themselves.
Unfortunately for them, in the digital age, they can’t control/influence the dissemination of information and thoughts anymore.
It’s a great day for America, everybody!
Are we up to 30 committed votes yet?
While I myself do not need to use marijuana, thanks to a caring doctor who has my condition under control…I know many people who have tried numerous combinations of prescription drugs and therapies that have been ineffective. They have turned to marijuana for help in controlling their many symptoms.
I work with people who have Fibromyalgia, CMP, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Diabetes and more. Marijauna has helped them with the cramping and pain from irritable bowel syndrome, it has aided them in their quest for a good nights sleep and has dulled nausea and pain.
It is not a perfect solution, and many are not comfortable with ingesting smoke into the lungs, but for now, it is the one thing that can give them back a small piece of their life.
They buy small quantities and use only once or twice a week, they do NOT deserve to be ticketed or incarcerated. They deserve compassion from our government.
Eventually scientists may find a way to manufacture this drug in a safe manner, and we will embrace it. Until then, stop labeling medical marijuana users as criminals!
Jet, you could recommend brownie mix or a Vaporizer to your friends.
Ok, brownie mix I get, what is the vaporizer?
What’s good with the recreational useage? We gonna be able to go for a midnight walk to the Bodega and get cured?
I sincerely hope other States are taking note of this move toward medical freedoms via hemp meds. Who’s next?
Jet,
A vaporizer is a device that uses hot air to heat the active ingredients in cannabis to their sublimation point which is below the burning point of the rest of the plant material. Thus, the vaporizer allows the user to avoid pyrolysis (the process that creates all the bad stuff) while benefiting from the medicinal properties of the plant. It is as harmful as inhaling air during a high pollen count day and it doesn’t taste or irritate the lungs like smoke understandably can. I hope this helps.
a happy day indeed now if ohio would just follow suit
seems the snowball is slowly getting bigger…
Wow,i like that explanation of Vaporizer but i am not clear with it.Can you explain it another way???.
The presidential speech would be have been great if someone would have asked him about legalizing cannabis, the GOP should run with that issue as a way to make them relevant again and seem hip at the same time, this would bring them to the forefront and cannabis legalization would be the symbol of freedom!
Now just wisconsin needs to get there ass in gear, anyone hear anything latley in Wisconsin????
Wikipedia has a nice article on vaporizers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaporizer
Hey to all those asking about vaporizers. They are devices that heat cannabis to a temperature at which the active ingredients vaporize, but not so hot that the plant material burns. It is a way to inhale cannabanoids without inhaling the combusted carbon products (it is these combustion products that are responsible for almost all negative effects on the user’s lungs).
Also, does anyone have a link to the actual legislation that passed in Rhode Island? Is this going to be a dispensary situation similar to the one in California? Because that would be awesome. Either way, this is good news of course.
Dear Dan Bernath,
Till 2008, I was pretty worried that medicinal uses for MJ would never be legal in my life time. Oh how wrong that projection was! It’s a new dawn, spread the word, RI, NH & Minnesota have marijuana programs now. I’m very happy for all the lives that will be saved.
TENNESSEE ACTIVIST CARE
Hey WOW,
get the latest High Time Mag. you will see they did a study on the best Vap’s; very good reading, kind of pricey but a very good health investment. You can find some cheeper ones on everybodydoesit.com but many of these are not rated for 110v.
Looks like more states are headed in the right direction thanks to advocacy and pragmatism. Great day yesterday for the cause.
For those of you looking at Vaporizers, I highly recommend the Silver Surfer (silversurfervap.com). It has definitely been worth the investment.
[...] 56 percent – expressed support for one new revenue source: legalizing and taxing marijuana.” Yesterday, in a huge triple play, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Rhode Island eased restrictions on medical [...]
I wonder if a Glade plug-in works as good as a vaporizor, and it’s cheaper.
hey fellow med. marijauna hopefulls we are now out of the frying pan and into the fire ! i my self am very happy that we are seeing a wave of change on the issue of med. marijauna the faster we can get this into action the faster we can get the country out of debt . this alone is the best thing i have heard in a long time no more hideing around like a prisoner ,no more getting ripped off by the people that we all seek out for to get the medicine that helps us all so much ,no more money going across the border ,no more guns going into mexico .this is wonderfull ,farmers not struggling to pay there bills,i myself am ready to fill my car with gas that helps the clean air act , i am going to have a great day ! KEEP UP ON THE GOOD FIGHT AMERICA WE ARE ALL MOST AT THE TOP OF THIS HILL!
good good good. keep it comming!
An important question is whether we continue a system in which all of the money flows to criminal drug cartels, or do we legalize and tax marijuana so the money can flow to the public treasury and the rebuilding of America?
Mere decriminalization, while preventing the most egregious aspects of enforcement related to simple possession, would do nothing to reduce the gang violence and destruction of public lands caused by criminals operating outside of the prohibition laws; both would end if individuals could legally grow a few plants of their own at home.
As a generally conservative American, I would support a personal use and cultivation permit, for example $100 for twelve plants, with the revenue split between the Federal and State governments. Let’s let ordinary Americans grow a little marijuana in their own backyards and put the criminal cartels out of business.
As a previous comment noted, it’s time to write our President and congressional leaders.
I have severe m.s. and this bill being would help mew an the economy.
When is Jersey gunna get there act together? Any new info there?
Awesome.. if you live in any of these states, please thank the reps who made this possible.
Also on April 29th, the Hawaii legislature passed SB 1058 SD2 HD2 CD1 which installs a Medical Cannabis Task Force of 13 people, of which I will be one, to look into the Hawaii medical program and find solutions to its problems, including the possibility of a dispensary system among other things.
This bill had already passed the Senate, and the House, and on the 29th passed the joint Conference Committee. It now will be read in front of the full house and senate tomorrow, then it will be off to the governors desk for her to either sign, ignore, or veto in the coming weeks.
This is the closest that Hawaii has come to positive changes to its medical cannabis system since it was installed 9 years ago. Hopefully we will be able to finally have a viable medical system in Hawaii.
I just want to say to everyone out there
Remember that it is the people who are supposed to control the politicians and the government not the other way around!
STOP BEING AFRAID OF THE GOVERNMENT AND
MAKE THE GOVERNMENT AFRAID OF YOU!
GROUP IN NUMBERS AND RIOT!
EVERYTHING IS IN THE HANDS OF
WE THE PEOPLE.
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