Urge the Rhode Island House to come back to protect patients from arrest
Terrible news: It is no longer certain whether
the House will reconvene to protect medical marijuana
patients from arrest.
The only step left before Rhode Island becomes
the 11th medical marijuana state is the House
overriding Gov. Donald Carcieri's (R) veto. But
representatives cannot override the veto unless they're
called back into session. That's why we're counting on
you to take three easy steps to make sure relief does
not slip away:
1) Write to your representative to
urge him or her to ask House Speaker William Murphy
(D-Providence) to bring the House back to protect
patients from arrest;
2) Write a letter-to-the-editor urging the
General Assembly to come back so that the House can
protect patients from arrest; and
3) Pass on this message to your
friends, family, and neighbors in Rhode
Island so that they, too, can call on the
House to return to session.
Yesterday, the Woonsocket Call ran an
article saying: "It is not clear … if the General
Assembly will return for a special session." It said
that the leadership will probably meet next week to
discuss whether and when to return. Before they meet,
please make sure that Speaker Murphy hears
from representatives saying they want him to
bring them back to protect patients from arrest. Please
be polite and remember that Murphy and most legislators
have been strong allies of medical marijuana
patients.
Rhode Island's medical marijuana legislation
is very similar to 10 other state laws that are working
well and protecting patients from arrest. It would
exempt seriously ill people and their caregivers from
state criminal laws for possessing or cultivating
limited amounts of marijuana. The patients would have
to have their doctors' recommendations to
qualify.
Thank you for your support and your
compassion. Please dont forget to pass this alert on so
that together we can make Rhode Island the 11th state
to stop the criminalization of the gravely
ill.
td valign="top" width="375">Urge the Rhode Island House to come
back to protect patients from arrest
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