Gov. Carcieri vetoes medical marijuana act'ask your legislators to override it

Published: June 29, 2005

Today, Gov. Donald Carcieri (R) vetoed identical bills that would stop Rhode Island from arresting seriously ill people for doctor-approved, medical use of marijuana. But with your help, these bills can still become law this summer. The General Assembly can vote to override Carcieri's veto with a vote of three-fifths of legislators present in each chamber. The vast majority of legislators in each chamber have shown their compassion by approving the bills by a larger margin, but that does not guarantee that they will vote to override his veto.

Urge your state legislators to enact the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act by overriding the governor's veto. Then, ask every Rhode Islander you know to do the same by clicking here.

In vetoing the bill, Carcieri ignored calls from the state medical society, the nurses association, the leading AIDS organization, and hundreds upon hundreds of constituents. But, unlike the governor, the vast majority of state legislators have shown their compassion and have been responsive to the medical community and the public.

Please write your representatives and follow up with a letter-to-the-editor calling on the entire legislature to override the veto.

Gov. Carcieri's reasoning for opposing the bill was convoluted and ever-changing. In his veto statement, Carcieri concluded: "This bill will make marijuana more available to children in Rhode Island," ignoring overwhelming evidence to the contrary. He also continued the bizarre argument that the state law threatening patients with arrest protects them from the federal threat of arrest.

But, notwithstanding Carcieri's lack of compassion, we can still stop the cruel prosecution of seriously ill Rhode Islanders. Please, take action now. And don't forget to pass this on to your friends, family, and e-mail lists. With your help, this humane and sensible legislation could become law this summer.