Providence, RI: Members of the state House overwhelmingly approved legislation on Wednesday that seeks to make Rhode Island the second state to regulate the establishment of ‘compassion centers’ to provide medical marijuana to state-authorized patients.
As passed, House Bill 5359 mandates the Department of Health to establish rules governing the licensing of non-profit facilities “to acquire, possess, cultivate, manufacture, deliver, transfer, transport, supply, or dispense marijuana, or related supplies and educational materials, to registered qualifying patients.”
The House approved the bill by a vote of 63 to 5.
The Senate previously approved a companion bill, Senate Bill 185, by a vote of 35 to 2.
The General Assembly overrode a gubernatorial veto to legalize the use of medical marijuana by qualified patients in January 2006. Republican Gov. Donald Carcieri is likely to also oppose this effort. However, lawmakers appear to have the votes to once again override the Governor’s veto.
For more information, please visit: ripatients.org.