Medical Marijuana: Rhode Island Dispensary Bill Passes with Veto-Proof Margins
Rhode Island will become the third state in the nation to enact a dispensary system to distribute medical marijuana to seriously ill patients after the state Senate joined the House in passing S185, the Edwin O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act by veto-proof margins. As of Thursday afternoon, the bill was on the governor's desk.
Rhode Island Senate chamber
The measure would permit three dispensaries to operate to sell marijuana to medical marijuana patients. Nearly 700 patients have registered with the state Department of Health since legislators approved a medical marijuana law there in 2006.
Under that law, Rhode Islanders suffering from chronic pain, seizures, multiple scleroris, severe nausea, or Alzheimer's are allowed to possess up to 12 plants and 2.5 ounces of marijuana. But the law carries no provision for patients unable or unwilling to grow their own medicine to obtain it elsewhere.
While 13 states have medical marijuana laws on the books, only two of them, California and New Mexico, allow for dispensaries.
"The Rhode Island Statehouse is on the cutting edge of helping people with severe health care problems," said Sen. Rhoda Perry (D-Providence), sponsor of the Senate bill. "Now patients will not be subjecting themselves to any harassment because we will have a well-regulated mechanism that will grow and distribute the marijuana."
The push for the dispensary legislation in Rhode Island was led by the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition and the Marijuana Policy Project.
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Comment posted by Anonymous on Wed, 07/08/2009 - 10:06pmHello,
Tomorrow I will be having the pump in my body turned up to deliver more Dilaudid to my brain in hopes that this will help control the severe and debilitating pain I have suffer. The trade offs are many. I have needed no fewer than 7 complex surgeries which have created a whole new set of pains which I'm told will only get worse. Each time this device has broken it has left me with severe side effects. Even if worked properly I would have to allow enough drug to kill the pain which has many side effects also. These are VERY SERIOUS problems which I cannot explain quickly...and I can only sit here typing for very short periods. My question/comment is this.
Are there particular doctors or programs which are proactive in helping people utilize this treatment? I'm not sure that my doctor would be comfortable filling out the necessary forms. So in the event that my articular doctor has reservations (philosophically, medically, mal pratice worries, etc.) which would be understandablle.... where than might I turn? Anything that stands a chance to interrupt this intactable pain without my constantly requiring more narcotics seems worth a try and frankly I know others who are in simular situations who claim it to be helpful. I am a psychologist who was forced into retirement due to my situation and there is no doubt that I would qualify due to several factors. Thank you Anonomous
P.S. Pardon my spelling