Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Law Now Permanent!

Rhode Island has proven itself to be one of the most successful states to pass a medical marijuana bill in the country, despite many obstacles. With Governor Donald Carcieri vetoing the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act not once but twice, the RI House of Representatives voted 58-11 to override the Governor's veto (making him look pretty silly) and make the law permanent. Rhode Island reps have really done a great deal for their constituents and listened to a Mason-Dixon poll from last September that found that 79% of Rhode Islanders support the medical marijuana program.

RI Patient and MPP's 2006 Activist of the Year Rhonda O'Donnel had this to say:

"Our legislature has stood with the scientific and medical community to ensure that I and hundreds of other seriously ill Rhode Islanders don't have to live in fear," said Rhonda O'Donnell, R.N., a multiple sclerosis patient who was the first to sign up for Rhode Island's program. "But the job won't be finished until every patient in every state who needs medical marijuana has complete protection. It's time for every state legislature and the U.S. Congress to change cruel and unscientific laws that criminalize the sick."

Without the Rhode Island Patients Advocacy Coalition (RIPAC) and MPP this law would not have made such great progress and most importantly RI patients would have no where to turn for help. Please consider making a donation to RIPAC to ensure that this progress does not stop!

As a RI native and a current RIPAC intern, I cannot explain how happy I am to see this become a permanent law and to witness firsthand that if you work hard enough your representatives will listen to you! No Rhode Islander knows this better than RIPAC Executive Director Jesse Stout (who also happens to be High Times "Freedom Fighter of the Month") ! Congratulations Jesse, RIPAC, and all the RI medical marijuana patients that will benefit from tonights vote!