Marijuana now legal for chronically ill

The Rhode Island House of Representative voted 59-13 to legalize marijuana for medical purposes and stated that it's not criminal when someone use marijuana under doctor's recommendation to relieve their symptoms.

Overriding the governor’s veto, the Rhode Island House of Representatives voted 59-13 yesterday to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Gov. Donald Carcieri vetoed the original bill, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Slater (D-Providence), last year, but the Senate overrode the veto before it broke for its summer recess. The House saved the override vote for yesterday.

The law, with a sunset clause in June 2007, allows a patient with a doctor’s prescription to grow or otherwise obtain at one time up to 12 marijuana plants or 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana. In addition, the patient can select two caregivers who can also legally grow and handle the same amount of marijuana. Patients and their caregivers must gain approval from the state Department of Health and register with the department – a measure supporters say will prevent abuse of the system.

Rhode Island follows 10 other states that have similar programs.

“Ten states have realized it makes no sense to criminalize someone for following their doctor’s recommendations and relieving their symptoms,” Slater told the House. “This will allow patients with specified conditions to use marijuana within their doctor’s recommendation.”

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