Providence, RI: Rhode Island has officially become the 11th state to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes. On Tuesday, January 3, the Rhode Island House voted 59-13 to approve the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act, overriding Governor Donald Carcieri’s veto. Since the Senate had already voted to override the veto, this bill now officially becomes law in Rhode Island.
The medical use proposal enjoyed strong support from the Rhode Island State Nurses Association, and the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition.
Rhode Island is the third state to legalize medical marijuana through the state legislature, rather than a voter initiative. Rhode Island joins Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington State in protecting sick and dying patients who find relief from medical marijuana.
For more information, please contact either Allen St. Pierre or Paul Armentano of NORML at (202) 483-5500.