Providence, RI: Rhode Island lawmakers are considering legislation that would make the state the first in the nation to authorize non-profit organizations to provide medical cannabis to state-authorized patients.
As introduced, House Bill 7888 and Senate Bill 2693 would allow the state to license non-profit organizations to cultivate and dispense medical cannabis to qualified patients. The proposal states, “A compassion center registered under this section may acquire, possess, cultivate, manufacture, deliver, transfer, transport, supply, or dispense marijuana, or related supplies and educational materials, to registered qualifying patients and their registered primary caregivers who have designated it as one of their primary caregivers.”
Under state law, qualified patients (or their designated primary caregiver) may possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis or cultivate up to 12 plants for medical purposes. An estimated 360 patients and 330 caregivers are currently registered with the state.
If enacted, HB 7888 and SB 2693 would also amend state law to allow for registered patient and caregivers to engage in not-for-profit transactions of cannabis. The proposals would also allow physicians in the neighboring states of Massachusetts and Connecticut to recommend cannabis therapy for Rhode Island patients.
Rhode Island is one of twelve states that allows for the physician-supervised use of medical cannabis.
For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre, NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500 or visit the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition at: http://www.ripatients.org. Additional information on HB 7888 and SB 2693 is available from NORML’s “Take Action” Center at: http://capwiz.com/norml2/issues/alert/?alertid=11125296.