cannabisnews.com: State Medical Marijuana Centers Get Green Light
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State Medical Marijuana Centers Get Green Light
Posted by CN Staff on July 19, 2009 at 19:50:50 PT
By Anish Gonchigar, Staff Writer
Source: Brown Daily Herald
RI -- The Rhode Island General Assembly passed a bill last month to allow the creation of up to three state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries, becoming the third state in the country to legalize so-called “compassion centers” after both the House and Senate voted to override the veto of Gov. Donald Carcieri ’65.The use of medical marijuana for gravely ill patients was legalized by the General Assembly in 2006. But without a legal means to obtain marijuana, patients have to grow it themselves or buy it illegally.
“It’s an opportunity for people to live out their lives in a more peaceful way,” said State Rep. Thomas Slater, D-Dist. 10, who sponsored the bill in the House. “The only people who seem to be prevented from getting marijuana are the people who need it for their diseases.”Stephen Hogan, executive director of the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition, also praised the bill. “Rhode Island now has the best law throughout the country for medical marijuana,” Hogan said. Unlike in California, he said, “these are state-regulated, non-profit organizations. All you need in California is a license.”According to Hogan, there should be three dispensaries statewide by 2011.Amy Kempe, a spokeswoman for Carcieri, said the governor continues to oppose the bill. “First and foremost, it tends to weaken the laws governing and the perceptions of illicit drugs,” Kempe said, adding that Rhode Island has one of the highest rates of drug use among teenagers.She added that California has seen an increase in crime in the areas surrounding compassion centers, as patients leaving the centers are vulnerable to muggers.Dan Bernath, spokesperson for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C., said that evidence of increased crime in areas around dispensaries in California is merely “anecdotal.” The bill, he said, is “a reflection of the understanding that these compassion centers have worked very well” in other states.“I think it is an acknowledgement that the mood is changing,” Bernath said. “Obama and his attorney general have shown that they’re not interested in using federal law enforcement resources against people operating within the laws of the state.” Source: Brown Daily Herald, The (Brown, RI Edu)Author: Anish Gonchigar, Staff WriterPublished: Sunday, July 19, 2009Copyright: 2009 The Brown Daily HeraldContact: letters browndailyherald.comWebsite: http://www.browndailyherald.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/nTjyHRNhCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #7 posted by John Tyler on July 20, 2009 at 20:36:51 PT
re comment #1
Once the politicians get a sweet taste of the extra money coming in from a cannabis tax, (and the lack of a political downside to it) it will be more accepted and even welcomed.
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Comment #6 posted by duzt on July 20, 2009 at 11:41:07 PT
bricks keep falling
It's only a matter of time now, and it couldn't come sooner. The quality of cannabis has gone down steadily over the past 8 years (way too many polyhybrids made by pollen chuckers with no horticultural knowledge). There are so many markets that will open up as cannabis becomes more accepted. I have traveled and collected land race strains over the past 10 years and have pure genetics from every continent and would love to open a legal seed company breeding true hybrids. It would also be nice to be able to open a pollen bank with pure landrace varieties so people could create their own real hybrids without having to waste space on males. It is coming and there will be a huge income potential for a lot of people. It's great to see that good ol' farming is making a comeback. Now if only I could have thousands instead of hundreds, (or not even worry about numbers like pretty much every other crop) I would be an even happier camper.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on July 20, 2009 at 10:41:38 PT
Iowa Board To Consider Medicinal Pot
 July 20, 2009DES MOINES, Iowa. -- The Iowa Board of Pharmacy may consider the possibility of a scientific review of the medical use of marijuana.Pharmacy board executive director Lloyd Jessen said the board on Tuesday will begin looking at a proposal that would lead to a series of public hearings around the state this year on medicinal marijuana. The hearings would allow public comment on the issue and look at the pros and cons of medical marijuana.Jessen said a result of the hearings could be a recommendation to the Legislature next year.Earlier this year, the board rejected the arguments of advocates who want to allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes.A bill introduced to the Iowa Legislature that would allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes stalled earlier this year.Copyright: 2009 The Associated Presshttp://www.ketv.com/news/20118047/detail.html
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Comment #4 posted by Hope on July 20, 2009 at 07:53:05 PT
Comment 2 Anunlikelyally 
Yes... it was good news. It's in one of these busy threads. 
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Comment #3 posted by runruff on July 20, 2009 at 07:22:43 PT
Coming in from the corporate wilderness!
From 1975 onward the polls show an increase in the support of legalization. History will look at it this way; 5,000 year history of benevolent relationship with cannabis interrupted by 75 years of absolute insanity called "The War on Drugs". It will be considered the longest running, most expensive, biggest failure in American History! The drugs win! Cannabis is re-recognized as an herb, not a drug, and will take it's rightful place among human lives and endeavors once again. A 75 year old scam. It is one of the most successful scams in history. While the WoD has been a financial boon to many industries it has been devastating to the economy, the Constitution, and the health of our country and the world.
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Comment #2 posted by anunlikelyally on July 20, 2009 at 06:58:11 PT:
Speaking of Going Over the Governors Head...
Anyone hear about the Senate override of the MMJ task force study veto in Hawaii?
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 20, 2009 at 06:03:00 PT
Poll: Should MMJ Be Taxed in Los Angeles?
July 20, 2009URL: http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2009/07/poll-should-medical-marijuana-be-taxed-in-los-angeles.html
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