Ask Gov. Chafee to certify compassion centers

Published: July 14, 2011

Over two years ago, the Rhode Island General Assembly enacted legislation to license medical marijuana compassion centers in the Ocean State. The General Assembly recognized that seriously ill individuals need reliable, safe, and immediate access to their medicine. Although the department of health selected the three providers back in March, Gov. Lincoln Chafee (I) is refusing to issue certificates of operation. Please email Gov. Chafee and ask him to fully implement the compassion center program.

The governor decided to put a hold on issuing licenses after receiving a letter from Rhode Island U.S. Attorney Peter Neronha suggesting that the federal government could prosecute individuals operating compassion centers. This is nothing more than a simple restatement of federal law. Remind Gov. Chafee that he should be implementing and enforcing state law, not federal law.

Gov. Chafee recently defied the federal government when he refused to hand over a confessed murderer because, under federal law, the individual would have faced the death penalty. If Gov. Chafee can go to bat against the federal government to spare the life of an admitted killer, he should have no problem also standing up for Rhode Island’s sick and debilitated by implementing state law.