Rhode Island Will License Medical Marijuana Shops

[babylonsister]

Ryan Grim
Rhode Island Will License Medical Marijuana Shops, Overriding Veto

First Posted: 06-16-09 06:00 PM



The Rhode Island legislature overrode a gubernatorial veto of a medical marijuana law Tuesday afternoon by an overwhelming margin, paving the way for state-licensed medical marijuana shops to begin operating. The House voted 68-0 for the pot measure and the senate moved it minutes later by a 35-3 count.

Once the law takes effect, the state will be the first in the nation to have one officially licensed nonprofit center selling marijuana. Over time, the state will license further nonprofit dispensaries.

The bill got a boost in the state after a much publicized incident in which a pot dealer beat up a medical marijuana patient. Proponents of the bill argued that patients shouldn't have to deal with unregulated, unlicensed drug dealers, but deserved a more orderly system.

In March, New Mexico became the first state to grant a state license to a medical marijuana producer.

"We are seeing a historic shift to allowing state-licensed, regulated medical marijuana production and distribution," said Karen O'Keefe of the Marijuana Policy Project after the vote.

Legislators in Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina and Pennsylvania are considering similar legislation. Arizona and Maine voters may soon vote on similar initiatives.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/16/rhode-island-will-license_n_216450.html

[opihimoimoi]

1. Hawaii issues those licenses too...They had to...so much money was flowing out of State

they had to do something to keep the money here....

Even small, the over all effect prolly saves Hawaii $40 to 200 mill per year...

Ours is a couple of years old already

[Ghost in the Machine]

2. This is very good news for the people in RI...

What the state should do now is require all city, county & state police agencies to turn over any & all seized marijuana they have in their possession to these dispensaries. At least the state can gain some revenue instead of just incinerating the pot....

[valerief]

3. I thought the cops just smoked it. nt

[Ghost in the Machine]

4. No, cops overdose on weed....

"I think we're dead"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-iBJQFMvgo


:kick:

[SammyWinstonJack]

6. .

:spray:

[valerief]

8. LOL! That killed me!!!!!

:rofl:

[Ghost in the Machine]

5. kick

[Echo In Light]

7. K&R