Marijuana Policy Project

To the Editor:

As an RN and multiple sclerosis patient who advocated for the medical marijuana bill, I am glad to see the state legislature continuing to explore ways to improve patients' well being. Patients fought hard for the medical marijuana law so we wouldn't have to risk being arrested for using marijuana, with our doctor's approval, to help relieve our symptoms. I am so thankful that we have such wonderful, compassionate legislators in this state who overwhelmingly voted to override the governor's veto in 2006 to make Rhode Island the 11th state to have a medical marijuana law.

After a two-year trial period, now would be the perfect time to create a reliable, safe source to legally obtain medical marijuana. In May, the Senate passed a compassion centers bill, which does just that. It would allow up to three well regulated, state-licensed nonprofit compassion centers to dispense medical marijuana to registered patients.

I hope the House will follow the Senate's lead before adjourning this month. The legislature has tremendously improved patients' well being by allowing us to use an effective medicine without risking arrest. Ensuring patients have a safe and legal source to obtain their medicine is the natural next step. 

Please ask your representative to support this proposal, visit ProtectPatients.org. Please act quickly, before they adjourn this session at the end of the month.

Rhonda O'Donnell, Rockville