Marijuana Reform Polling Well In Rhode Island

[420 Warrior]

Rhode Islanders are ready to decriminalize and maybe even legalize marijuana, according to a new Public Policy Polling survey commissioned by the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP).

The poll found nearly two-thirds support (65%) decriminalization and bare majority support (52%) for legalization.

[image:1 align:left]The poll comes as the state legislature ponders a pair of bills, House Bill 7092 and Senate Bill 2253, which would reduce the penalty for possession of less than an ounce of weed to a citation with a maximum $150 fine. Under current law, possession is punishable by a $500 fine and up to a year in jail.

Decriminalization had support across the political spectrum, with 73% of Democrats, 64% of Republicans, and 60% of independents in favor of the measure.

In addition to political party, the poll provided cross-tabs on age and gender.

In no group was there less than majority support for decriminalization.

The least supportive group was voters over 65, and even 58% of them supported decriminalization.

But maybe legislators should set their sights a bit higher and go for legalization.

It looks like the Rhode Island electorate is just about there already with 52% saying they supported taxing and regulating marijuana like alcohol.

Legalization won majority support among men (59%), but not women (45%); among Democrats (55%) and Republicans (54%), but not independents (49%); and among every age group except voters over 65, 55% of whom opposed it.

"As this polling demonstrates, the public is clearly aware that marijuana prohibition is failed policy and they are ready for change," said MPP legislative analyst Robert Capecchi. "The people of Rhode Island understand the need for sensible marijuana policy reform.

Ending marijuana prohibition would created entire industries with hundreds of jobs, allow the government to collected needed revenue from responsible sales, and keep marijuana out of the hands of minors through thorough regulations."

The poll also asked about medical marijuana and found strong support (72%) for the state's program.

Nearly as many (70%) said they wanted Gov. Lincoln Chafee (I) to implement the state's 2009 creating three nonprofit dispensaries for patients.

Chafee stopped the program because of fears of federal intervention.

News Hawk - 420 Warrior 420 MAGAZINE
Location: Rhode Island
Source: Hawaii News Daily
Author: Phillip Smith
Contact: editor@hawaiinewsdaily.com
Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Cannabis News.
Website: cannabis.hawaiinewsdaily.com

 

[RXTHC]

Feel free to pass this along...RECOMMENDED LEGISLATION is as follows:
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
Legislative findings. — The State of Rhode Island recognizes that some qualified patients may not have primary care-givers and also may not be able to undertake all the physical activities necessary to cultivate cannabis for personal medical use. Accordingly, this section recognizes that qualified patients may join together to form a medical cannabis collective for the purpose of cultivating and providing medical cannabis solely for the personal medical use of the members who are qualified patients. The State recognizes that not all members of a collective will perform the same tasks or contribute to the collective in an equal manner. Accordingly, collectives are free to decide how to best pool their resources and divide the physical and financial responsibilities inherent to cultivating and providing medical cannabis for the personal medical use of the members who are qualified patients.
Definitions.—"Medical Cannabis Collectives", shall be construed to include any association, cooperative, affiliation, or collective of qualified patients, organized to provide education, referral, or network services, and facilitation or assistance in the lawful production and distribution of medical marijuana.
The Department within 30 days (fee schedule to be same as caregiver) within receipt of application for medical marijuana collective shall issue certificates of cultivation for each qualified patient for whom an application has been submitted. Said collectives must follow the following criteria,
(1) Membership to a collective shall be restricted to qualified patients. However, a care-giver may be a member when their patient is a minor
(2) Members shall not barter sell or give away or otherwise distribute medical cannabis to non-members.
(3) It is unlawful for any person or collective to permit any breach of peace therein or any disturbance of public order or decorum by any tumultuous, riotous or disorderly conduct.
(4) Collectives shall not permit the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
(5) Collectives shall provide adequate security on the premises to ensure the safety of persons and to help protect the premises from theft.
(6) Collectives shall provide police officials with the name and phone number of an on-site community relations staff person to whom one can provide notice if there are operating problems associated with the establishment and shall be available for inspection by the local chief of police upon reasonable request.
(7) Collectives should have sufficient ventilation and storage facilities so that no odor is evident outside of the facility.
(8) Collectives may cultivate marijuana in aggregate amounts tied to its membership numbers.
(9) Collective cultivation sites shall be restricted to twelve (12) patients, however, a collective may operate more than one cultivation site.
(10) Collectives shall have procedural safeguards in place to ensure that all medical information to which it becomes privy concerning its qualified patients is maintained in confidence.
(11) Collective shall not predicate participation by qualified patients on financial capability or any other ability to pay for association services or medical marijuana, however, the collective may request that qualified patients provide on an "ability to pay" basis, reimbursement for the actual cost of service provided to the qualified patient or for the actual production cost of medical marijuana provided through the collective.
(12) Collectives shall have in place regulations which require the immediate termination of participation by a qualified patient who violates collective rules and regulations guidelines or other protocol.
(13) Collectives cannot limit membership on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, height, weight, or physical characteristic.
(14) Collectives shall be wheelchair accessible and disability accommodations shall be provided upon request.
(15) Collectives shall be autonomous.
(16) A collective shall pay an annual fee to the health department in the amount of fifty (50) dollars per qualified member.
(17) Collectives shall be not for profit entities..