Pinch
Well-Known Member
Providence, RI - Patients suffering from debilitating medical conditions would be able to grow and use marijuana without risking arrest under a bill being debated before a legislative committee on Wednesday.
The Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Act would shield patients suffering from diseases like cancer and AIDS from being prosecuted for smoking marijuana. Their doctors and caregivers would also be protected.
The bill, filed in both legislative chambers, is due for public debate Wednesday before the House Committee on Health, Education & Welfare. The Senate Committee on Judiciary is scheduled to consider the same bill Thursday afternoon.
Ten states already have laws permitting the medical use and cultivation of marijuana, according to the text of the bill.
"This is not a liberal bill," said Sen. Rhoda E. Perry, sponsor of the Senate bill. "It's a medical bill. It's a bill that has to do with compassion and it's modeled after those bills that have been successful in both Colorado and Oregon."
Patients qualified to use marijuana for treatment would be issued special identification cards with their name, address and date of birth, as well as the name of their primary caregiver. The patients would then be allowed to possess up to 12 marijuana plants and 2½ ounces of usable marijuana without facing arrest.
According to statistics from the federal government, 99 percent of marijuana arrests are made under state law rather than federal law.
"Consequently, changing state law will have the practical effect of protecting from arrest the vast majority of seriously ill people who have a medical need to use marijuana," the bill states.
Perry said she had a nephew who recently died of AIDS and "had extraordinary difficult times with pain management, with nausea, with wasting, etc."
"In my own way, I'm dedicating the passage of this bill to him," she said.
The Providence Democrat said the measure had the support of the American Medical Association and other industry groups.
Nathaniel Lepp, executive director of the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition, said doctors have used marijuana successfully to treat the symptoms of cancer and other diseases.
"It is an unfair policy to threaten medical professionals and sick people with arrest for using medication," Lepp said.
Source: News Channlel 10
Copyright: 2005 by The Associated Press. Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc.
Contact: webmaster@turnto10.com
Website: https://www.turnto10.com/politics/4504453/detail.html
The Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Act would shield patients suffering from diseases like cancer and AIDS from being prosecuted for smoking marijuana. Their doctors and caregivers would also be protected.
The bill, filed in both legislative chambers, is due for public debate Wednesday before the House Committee on Health, Education & Welfare. The Senate Committee on Judiciary is scheduled to consider the same bill Thursday afternoon.
Ten states already have laws permitting the medical use and cultivation of marijuana, according to the text of the bill.
"This is not a liberal bill," said Sen. Rhoda E. Perry, sponsor of the Senate bill. "It's a medical bill. It's a bill that has to do with compassion and it's modeled after those bills that have been successful in both Colorado and Oregon."
Patients qualified to use marijuana for treatment would be issued special identification cards with their name, address and date of birth, as well as the name of their primary caregiver. The patients would then be allowed to possess up to 12 marijuana plants and 2½ ounces of usable marijuana without facing arrest.
According to statistics from the federal government, 99 percent of marijuana arrests are made under state law rather than federal law.
"Consequently, changing state law will have the practical effect of protecting from arrest the vast majority of seriously ill people who have a medical need to use marijuana," the bill states.
Perry said she had a nephew who recently died of AIDS and "had extraordinary difficult times with pain management, with nausea, with wasting, etc."
"In my own way, I'm dedicating the passage of this bill to him," she said.
The Providence Democrat said the measure had the support of the American Medical Association and other industry groups.
Nathaniel Lepp, executive director of the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition, said doctors have used marijuana successfully to treat the symptoms of cancer and other diseases.
"It is an unfair policy to threaten medical professionals and sick people with arrest for using medication," Lepp said.
Source: News Channlel 10
Copyright: 2005 by The Associated Press. Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc.
Contact: webmaster@turnto10.com
Website: https://www.turnto10.com/politics/4504453/detail.html
