cannabisnews.com: RI Gov. Chafee Strike Deal To Allow Dispensaries
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RI Gov. Chafee Strikes Deal To Allow Dispensaries
Posted by CN Staff on March 01, 2012 at 17:49:58 PT
By David Klepper, The Associated Press
Source: Associated Press
Providence, R.I. -- Rhode Island lawmakers and Gov. Lincoln Chafee announced a compromise Thursday that they say will allow three already licensed medical marijuana dispensaries to open without the risk of a federal prosecution.The deal, which must be approved by the state's General Assembly, would limit the amount of marijuana dispensaries could possess to prevent the facilities from running afoul of federal drug laws. Chafee blocked three state-approved dispensaries from opening last year after federal prosecutors warned that they could face criminal charges.
"We tried to find something the federal government could accept," said state Rep. Scott Slater, a Providence Democrat who worked closely on the legislation. "I don't they (federal prosecutors) are ever going to bless anything, but we're trying to respond to their concerns while giving the patients what they need."The compromise is good news for the 4,416 people now enrolled in the state's medical marijuana program, according to JoAnne Leppanen, executive director of the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition, a group which called on Chafee to allow the dispensaries to open.Rhode Island already allows qualified patients to possess small amounts of marijuana to treat conditions including chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures and multiple sclerosis. Lawmakers approved the compassion center law after patients said there were few safe and reliable sources for medical marijuana."This is a huge relief," Leppanen said. "The dispensaries have had their licenses for almost a year now. We can't get them open soon enough."Sen. Rhoda Perry, a Providence Democrat, said she believes the dispensaries could open three to six months after the law is enacted. Perry pushed for the compromise and helped write the original dispensary law."Our main concern is getting compassion centers up and running for the many suffering patients who still have no legal way to obtain their prescription medicine," said state Sen. Rhoda Perry, D- Providence , one of the lawmakers who crafted the compromise. "It's been three years now since we approved compassion centers. That's a long time for patients to wait for relief from pain and illness."Perry said there's no way to be sure federal authorities will accept the compromise."We're acting in good faith," she said. "We had to try to find a solution."A spokesman for U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha of Rhode Island said Thursday that Neronha's office has yet to review the proposed compromise and would have no comment.It would be up to the state's Department of Health to set the precise limits on how much marijuana a dispensary could possess. Department spokesman Peter Hanney said that if the bill passes, Health Director Michael Fine would call a series of public hearings before issuing regulations. He said there's no estimate as to how long the process might take.Last spring, federal prosecutors wrote to officials in several states contemplating dispensaries that large-scale medical marijuana operations could face criminal prosecution for drug crimes. The prosecutors said they wouldn't target medical marijuana users who grow or possess small amounts for personal use.In response, Chafee blocked the dispensaries from opening and said he would work on finding a compromise."I look forward to passage of a bill that will avoid federal intervention and bring needed medicinal relief to those who stand to benefit," Chafee, an independent, said in a statement Thursday.The compromise already has the support of House Speaker Gordon Fox and Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed, according to their spokespeople. The legislation has been introduced in both chambers. Legislative hearings on the proposal have not been scheduled.The three dispensaries to be licensed are Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center in Providence, Summit Medical Compassion Center in Warwick and Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center in Portsmouth.Source: Associated Press (Wire)Author: David Klepper, The Associated PressPublished: March 1, 2012Copyright: 2012 The Associated PressCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by Sam Adams on March 02, 2012 at 09:42:17 PT
Chafee
Hey this could be Chafee discovering a set of....ahem. Give them a chance. It sounds like they just decided to flaunt the feds. The cap on the amount of medicine sounds like spin - of course they can regulate that, they can set any regs they want on the dispensaries, the law allows them to regulate them out the wazoo. There's nothing inherently wrong with a cap on the amount, it is a needless hassle but if it's high enough it should be OK. Allowing the caregivers to provide it to dispensaries is great.
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Comment #2 posted by afterburner on March 01, 2012 at 23:39:16 PT
The U.S. Federal Shell Game Must End
"Last spring, federal prosecutors wrote to officials in several states contemplating dispensaries that large-scale medical marijuana operations could face criminal prosecution for drug crimes. The prosecutors said they wouldn't target medical marijuana users who grow or possess small amounts for personal use."If this is the federal government guidance-of-the-week, why are reformers banning home cultivation in some state proposals? Get real, folks. Enough with the stalling.
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Comment #1 posted by The GCW on March 01, 2012 at 22:40:57 PT
ding a ling
"without the risk of a federal prosecution"-0-3 stores will serve 4,416 (and growing) people.?!-0-It would be up to the state's Department of Health to set the precise limits on how much marijuana a dispensary could possess!!!!-They are going to need numbers to add up to what 4,416 people are going to need or else they are going to mandate shortage.-0-Translation: that comes out to over 6 customers per hour for those 3 merchants. Empty shelves aren't going to do it.-0-Why don't we just eliminate the federal government FROM THIS ISSUE (give them a broom and they could clean the floor... and do something productive... ya think) / END THE DEVIL LAW & join THE ECOLOGICIAN and take the 1st page of the Bible for what it says? -ALL THE SEED BEARING PLANTS ARE GOOD.Perhaps it would be ok to stop caging humans for using what God says is good on page 1. ((( it's supposed to be the CHIRISTIAN RIGHT not the Christian WRONG )))HELLOFEDERAL GOVERNMENTHELLOI don't think anyone's home.
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