One giant step closer to safe access! R.I. House passes compassion centers bill 63-5

Medical marijuana patients in Rhode Island are on the verge of having safe access to their medicine legally under state law. Yesterday, the House overwhelmingly voted to pass H. 5359, which would give the state's more than 600 medical marijuana patients safe and consistent access to the medicine they need! Almost 93% of the representatives voted for the bill, which exceeds the 60% threshold needed to override a possible governor's veto. This historic vote was the first time that the Rhode Island House of Representatives considered the compassion centers bill, and the representatives' overwhelming support was amazing.

This vote follows the 35-2 April 29 Senate vote for the companion bill, S. 0185. Soon, each chamber will pass the other's version of our bill, and the compassion centers legislation will head to Gov. Donald Carcieri (R) for his signature. If he vetoes the bill, 60% of the members of each chamber must vote to override, and then patients will finally have safe and consistent access in Rhode Island. Keep your eye out for future alerts to help us take these last steps.

Some of Rhode Island's medical marijuana patients are too ill or lack the financial resources or physical ability to grow their own medical marijuana, and do not have a trusted friend or family member to act as a caregiver and cultivate on their behalf. This lack of safe access has forced some seriously ill patients into the underground market, which can be dangerous. This much-needed legislation will create non-profit compassion centers that can distribute medical marijuana to these qualified patients.

After the vote, Representative Thomas C. Slater (D-Providence), H. 5359's sponsor, commented, "We recognized when we created the medical marijuana program that marijuana has a legitimate medical application, and that patients should have access to it if they need it. But we forced them to deal with criminals in order to get it. We're talking about very sick people, and they shouldn't have to put themselves at risk to get their medicine." This is a personal issue for Representative Slater, as he has been diagnosed with two types of cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. He is one of four of the six siblings in his family with the disease, and lost his father, brother, and uncle to cancer.

As always, thank you to the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition and its hardworking director Jesse Stout, who did great work coordinating riveting testimony from patients, doctors, and advocates in the House and Senate committees and lobbying to secure extra votes in both chambers.

Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project, the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition, and Rhode Island's seriously ill patients. You can also check MPP's Rhode Island news page for coverage of yesterday's vote.