Jacob Bell
New Member
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Rhode Island Medical Society, an early supporter of the state's medical marijuana program, is urging Governor Chafee to issue operating licenses to the three marijuana dispensaries the Health Department selected in the spring.
Dr. Gary Bubly, society president, sent the four-paragraph letter to Chafee and Michael Fine, director of the state Health Department, and said that the establishment of dispensaries, also known as compassion centers, are critical in providing "a source of mechanism for patients to obtain their marijuana in a safe and legal manner.''
"It requires appropriate security and oversight allowing patients to obtain their marijuana in a controlled environment,'' he wrote. "Further delay in implementing this law only serves to deny relief to patients suffering from the qualifying medical conditions.''
Christine Hunsinger, Chafee's spokeswoman, said that her office received a copy of the letter last week, but that the governor has not yet had a chance to review it.
She said that Chafee's staff continues to review what other states across the country are doing in terms of issuing dispensary licenses and his decision to place the three Rhode Island licenses "on hold'' remains in effect.
Rhode Island is among 16 states and the District of Columbia that have legalized the use of medical marijuana. In March, following two years of review and public hearings, the state selected the three dispensaries to cultivate and sell marijuana to 3,906 licensed patients.
About 200 new patients are entering the program each month. They get their marijuana from 2,445 caregivers licensed to grow up to 24 plants for up to five patients.
The number of caregivers continues to grow, too, but supporters of the medical marijuana program say that the dispensaries are still desperately needed.
JoAnne Lepannen, executive director of the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition, said that patients often have disputes with their caregivers over pricing, delivery and quality of the marijuana. As a result, the relationship may fall apart and the patients turn to buying their marijuana illegally.
She has said that the dispensaries would give patients a safe place to buy a quality product.
The three dispensaries selected are: Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center in Providence, Summit Medical Compassion Center in Warwick and Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center in Portsmouth.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: newsblog.projo.com
Author: W. Zachary Malinowski
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: The Providence Journal Co.
Website: RI Medical Society urges Chafee to allow marijuana centers
Dr. Gary Bubly, society president, sent the four-paragraph letter to Chafee and Michael Fine, director of the state Health Department, and said that the establishment of dispensaries, also known as compassion centers, are critical in providing "a source of mechanism for patients to obtain their marijuana in a safe and legal manner.''
"It requires appropriate security and oversight allowing patients to obtain their marijuana in a controlled environment,'' he wrote. "Further delay in implementing this law only serves to deny relief to patients suffering from the qualifying medical conditions.''
Christine Hunsinger, Chafee's spokeswoman, said that her office received a copy of the letter last week, but that the governor has not yet had a chance to review it.
She said that Chafee's staff continues to review what other states across the country are doing in terms of issuing dispensary licenses and his decision to place the three Rhode Island licenses "on hold'' remains in effect.
Rhode Island is among 16 states and the District of Columbia that have legalized the use of medical marijuana. In March, following two years of review and public hearings, the state selected the three dispensaries to cultivate and sell marijuana to 3,906 licensed patients.
About 200 new patients are entering the program each month. They get their marijuana from 2,445 caregivers licensed to grow up to 24 plants for up to five patients.
The number of caregivers continues to grow, too, but supporters of the medical marijuana program say that the dispensaries are still desperately needed.
JoAnne Lepannen, executive director of the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition, said that patients often have disputes with their caregivers over pricing, delivery and quality of the marijuana. As a result, the relationship may fall apart and the patients turn to buying their marijuana illegally.
She has said that the dispensaries would give patients a safe place to buy a quality product.
The three dispensaries selected are: Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center in Providence, Summit Medical Compassion Center in Warwick and Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center in Portsmouth.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: newsblog.projo.com
Author: W. Zachary Malinowski
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: The Providence Journal Co.
Website: RI Medical Society urges Chafee to allow marijuana centers
