Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Marijuana legalization advocates are planning to introduce a scaled-back version of their legislation that would legalize the drug next year but put the brakes on immediate plans for retail stores.
While the previous version of the bill called for legalizing the drug immediately, the new proposal calls for taking that step in July 2018 when recreational pot shops are slated to open in Massachusetts. In the interim, a six-person Cannabis Advisory Board would be established to study how the state should go about creating a recreational marijuana market. It would make its recommendations by January 2018.
Sen. Joshua Miller, D-Cranston, and Rep. Scott Slater, D-Providence, the lead sponsors on the legalization legislation, are planning to amend their bills to reflect the changes.
The move signals that legalization advocates are heightening their push as the General Assembly approaches the home stretch of the legislative session. Miller said advocates are willing to compromise in a significant way to ensure that “progress” is made this year.
“Our proposal balances the will of the majority of voters who want marijuana to be legal for adults while respecting colleagues who want to slow things down and get the regulations right,” Miller said.
A poll conducted in January for Regulate Rhode Island, the local arm of the Marijuana Policy Project, showed that 59 percent of Rhode Islanders support marijuana legalization.
On Thursday, House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio appeared cool to the new version.
Asked in an email if Ruggerio is open to considering the proposal, spokesman Greg Pare wrote, “No! The Senate president is open to a joint study commission.”
House Spokesman Larry Berman said Mattiello is “committed to the passage of legislation creating a study commission.”
Earlier this week, legalization proponents appeared to gain some traction as the House Judiciary Committee added several pro-legalization members to a bill that would create a study commission to look at legalization. The proponents, however, maintain that such a panel, even with the increased representation, is a delay tactic.
The bill has been approved by the House Judiciary Committee and is expected to be voted on the House floor next week, Berman said.
Matthew Schweich, director of state campaigns for the Marijuana Policy Project, said the study commission would be a repeat of the debate that has been going on at the General Assembly for years.
“Instead of asking if we should legalize marijuana, which is a question best addressed by the existing committee process in the General Assembly, we should study how legalization could be implemented,” Schweich said.
Slater said the July 2018 date was chosen because Rhode Islanders who cross the border into Massachusetts to buy marijuana once stores open there should not be considered lawbreakers when they return to Rhode Island.
“Virtually all of our neighboring states are moving in this direction, and we want to see Rhode Island at least establish a viable path to legalization so that we are ready to move forward next year,” Slater said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: R.I. legislators push bill to legalize marijuana in 2018 - News - providencejournal.com - Providence, RI
Author: Jennifer Bogdan
Contact: Contact Us - providencejournal.com - Providence, RI
Photo Credit: Andrew Selsky
Website: providencejournal.com: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Providence, RI
While the previous version of the bill called for legalizing the drug immediately, the new proposal calls for taking that step in July 2018 when recreational pot shops are slated to open in Massachusetts. In the interim, a six-person Cannabis Advisory Board would be established to study how the state should go about creating a recreational marijuana market. It would make its recommendations by January 2018.
Sen. Joshua Miller, D-Cranston, and Rep. Scott Slater, D-Providence, the lead sponsors on the legalization legislation, are planning to amend their bills to reflect the changes.
The move signals that legalization advocates are heightening their push as the General Assembly approaches the home stretch of the legislative session. Miller said advocates are willing to compromise in a significant way to ensure that “progress” is made this year.
“Our proposal balances the will of the majority of voters who want marijuana to be legal for adults while respecting colleagues who want to slow things down and get the regulations right,” Miller said.
A poll conducted in January for Regulate Rhode Island, the local arm of the Marijuana Policy Project, showed that 59 percent of Rhode Islanders support marijuana legalization.
On Thursday, House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio appeared cool to the new version.
Asked in an email if Ruggerio is open to considering the proposal, spokesman Greg Pare wrote, “No! The Senate president is open to a joint study commission.”
House Spokesman Larry Berman said Mattiello is “committed to the passage of legislation creating a study commission.”
Earlier this week, legalization proponents appeared to gain some traction as the House Judiciary Committee added several pro-legalization members to a bill that would create a study commission to look at legalization. The proponents, however, maintain that such a panel, even with the increased representation, is a delay tactic.
The bill has been approved by the House Judiciary Committee and is expected to be voted on the House floor next week, Berman said.
Matthew Schweich, director of state campaigns for the Marijuana Policy Project, said the study commission would be a repeat of the debate that has been going on at the General Assembly for years.
“Instead of asking if we should legalize marijuana, which is a question best addressed by the existing committee process in the General Assembly, we should study how legalization could be implemented,” Schweich said.
Slater said the July 2018 date was chosen because Rhode Islanders who cross the border into Massachusetts to buy marijuana once stores open there should not be considered lawbreakers when they return to Rhode Island.
“Virtually all of our neighboring states are moving in this direction, and we want to see Rhode Island at least establish a viable path to legalization so that we are ready to move forward next year,” Slater said.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: R.I. legislators push bill to legalize marijuana in 2018 - News - providencejournal.com - Providence, RI
Author: Jennifer Bogdan
Contact: Contact Us - providencejournal.com - Providence, RI
Photo Credit: Andrew Selsky
Website: providencejournal.com: Local & World News, Sports & Entertainment in Providence, RI
