Title:
Rhode Island becomes the 15th state to decriminalize marijuana!
Message:
Moments ago, Gov. Lincoln Chafee signed legislation to replace the criminal penalties for adults’ possession of up to an ounce of marijuana with a civil violation of $150 for most violations! S2253/H7092 — sponsored by Sen. Josh Miller and Rep. John Edwards — is effective April 1, 2013.
MPP worked with an outstanding group of advocates in Providence. We are grateful to the tireless legislative sponsors, Rep. Edwards and Sen. Miller. Many thanks to Wally Gernt and Chris Reilly at the Bradford Group, who have successfully lobbied on behalf of MPP to reform Rhode Island’s marijuana laws since 2004. Brown University’s Dr. David Lewis, Dr. Glenn Loury, Brad Brockmann, and Dr. Nick Zaller lent their high-profile support, as did Law Enforcement Against Prohibition speakers Jack Cole and Beth Comery. Jared Moffat and other volunteers from Brown and University of Rhode Island’s SSDP chapters, Becky Mer and Nick Horton from OpenDoors, Steve Brown from the Rhode Island ACLU, and Catharine Leach — all of these individuals and groups were crucial in speaking out and corralling supportive individuals to contact their legislators.
The Rhode Island Office of the Public Defender, the Rhode Island State Nurses Association, and the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers provided influential support at the committee hearings. Finally, it would not have happened without our members. Your donations and outreach to elected officials were instrumental in making this sensible bill law.
Thank you all!
