Rhode Island: Ask your lawmakers pass the medical marijuana reform bill

Take action and send a message to your legislators in support of H 5453!

For Ellen Smith, who lives with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and sarcoidosis, Rhode Island’s medical marijuana program has been a critical lifeline. She and her husband, Stu, have fought for years to protect patients’ rights and advocate for improvements to the law.

Ellen and Stu have worked closely with other advocates and state Representative Scott Slater to draft legislation that would make significant reforms to help medical marijuana patients, particularly those with financial hardships. House Bill 5453 would:

• create a hardship program to help low-income patients;
• repeal the "plant tag" program for patients who cultivate their own medicine; and
• eliminate excessive medical cannabis fees and taxes.

Please contact your state legislators now with our simple online action tool and urge them to support H 5453.

As the General Assembly considers legislation to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults, it is crucial that the needs of patients who use marijuana to alleviate serious health conditions are not forgotten.

Thank you.