Rhode Island on Tuesday became the 11th state to legalize medical marijuana and the first since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that patients who use the drug can still be prosecuted under federal law. The House overrode a veto by Gov. Don Carcieri, 59-13, allowing people with illnesses such as cancer and AIDS to grow up to 12 marijuana plants or buy 2.5 ounces of marijuana to relieve their symptoms. Those who do are required to register with the state and get an identification card. Federal law prohibits any use of marijuana, but Maine, Vermont, Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington allow it to be grown and used for medicinal purposes. The U.S. high court ruled June 6 that people who smoke marijuana because their doctors recommend it can still be prosecuted under federal drug laws, even if their states allow it. Federal authorities, however, have conceded they are unlikely to prosecute many medicinal marijuana users. "I'm sure everybody in this room knows at least one person who would have benefited from medical marijuana," Rep. Thomas Slater, who has cancer, told fellow lawmakers before the vote. Slater said he does not use marijuana now, but it could become part of his treatment in the future. Carcieri, unhappy with the override, said the law fails to provide ways for users to buy marijuana legally and leaves Rhode Islanders open to federal prosecution. "Users will be forced to purchase marijuana in the illegal street market, putting them at risk and complicating the difficult jobs that our law enforcement personnel must do every day," the governor said. Tom Riley, a spokesman for the Office of National Drug Control Policy in Washington, said the vote showed "misguided and out-of-touch" views on the harms of marijuana. "There's this notion from the '60s or the '70s that marijuana is a harmless drug," Riley said. "It's not." Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed
daaaaamn thats weird....i remember reading this article in either the providence journal or pawtucket times....and i was like i should scan it and post it on hip forums. the only thing i HATE is that they still chickened out cuz they dont supply it, they just allow you to get it illegally...its like they're trying to make problems arive in the future so they can take it back... but i'm still excited for this new leap
You have to purchase it illegally, but have you honestly ever been busted at a deal? Since a deal is usually only a couple of seconds and for what you buy you will be out for a long time. On a 30 sack, I can usually spend about 1 hour total toking time, and maybe 10 seconds at a "pit stop" (what I call a deal because they come to my house and I go outside and pick it up). Since you spend soooo much time making it soooo damn obvious you have weed, you have more of a chance of getting busted, unless you live in RI.
thats lame about not supplying it, i was hyped on gettin some dank medical shit cuz i live pretty close to RI.
Well they can still grow it...isn't that still medical marijuana? Thought so. Anyway, I'm also sure that clubs of some sort will start where people with the cards will trade marijuana and such...you guys need to look at the positives.
