Rhode Island Legislators Consider Licensing Medical-Marijuana Dispensaries

Lawmakers in Rhode Island are considering whether to allow licensed dispensaries to provide medical marijuana, the Providence Journal reported March 5. 

Legislators passed a bill legalizing medical marijuana two years ago, but did not specify how individuals could legally obtain the drug. State Rep. Thomas Slater and Sen. Rhonda Perry have proposed a bill that would create “compassion centers” to grow and sell pot at affordable prices to the 600 patients enrolled in Rhode Island’s medical-marijuana program.

“Licensing a nonprofit compassion center would solve the problems by allowing a safe, state-regulated place for patients to get their medicine,” Slater said.

Last year, a House committee voted down similar legislation, and some committee members still have concerns about how the centers would be run and how neighborhoods would react to the dispensaries.

However, changes in the bill language, the inclusion of details about security measures, and indications from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder that federal raids on medical-marijuana dispensaries in California will end appear to have swayed some legislators in favor of the bill.

“The questions I had have been answered and I’m pleased the federal government has made a commitment not to come in and arrest these very vulnerable individuals,” said Rep. Joseph McNamara, who voted against the bill last year.