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Local officials and patients responded with cheers and concerns a day after the Rhode Island House of Representatives voted to override the governor’s veto and legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes.
The law passed Tuesday allows a patient with a “debilitating medical condition” such as cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, HIV or Hepatitis C to grow or otherwise obtain at one time up to 12 marijuana plants or 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana under a doctor’s supervision.
In addition, the law allows the patient to select one or two caregivers, who must be at least 21, that can legally grow and handle the patient’s marijuana. Patients and their caregivers must register with the state Department of Health and carry registration cards.
Warwick resident Rhonda O’Donnell, a former nurse who doctors diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1994, said she was “thrilled and elated” the override passed.
“I had been getting assurances it would pass but I didn’t believe it until I saw it,” said O’Donnell from the back of the House on Tuesday.
O’Donnell had fought alongside her supporters for several years to allow the state to legalize medical marijuana and said she is anxious to see if it helps her pain and stiffness in her legs.
“I’ve already talked to my doctors they’re behind me,” O’Donnell said.
She added that her friends with chronic illnesses are also pleased with the law.
“Everybody is happy,” she said. “In fact, I’ve gotten a couple personal things because some people have been doing [marijuana] and now they’re so relieved they don’t have to worry about getting arrested busted or whatever.”
Her son Tom O’Donnell said the law would bring relief to his family.
“It’s going to mean that my mom can follow her doctor’s recommendation without fear of being arrested, fined or having her home seized, so this will put my family at ease,” he said.
Rhode Island Chapter Program Director Gwen Reeve of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society said the society has no official stand on the law’s passage.
“We really base our stance on evidence-based research and the studies that have come out don’t really show objective [medical] improvement,” Reeve said.
When asked if the law couldn’t hurt, Reeve said, “It’s still against the federal law isn’t it? I think that’s a real consideration.”
While marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, the legislation notes that 99 percent of marijuana arrests are made at the state level and the state is under no obligation to enforce federal law.
Reeve said the society recommends patients interested in using marijuana talk with their doctors and hopes researchers will run extensive studies now that marijuana has been legalized in 11 states.
“I think they need to do more studies and the more studies they do will give them a little more strength, yes it’s a good thing, or no it’s not really benefitting this,” she said.
Also waiting to see the effects of the law is the Warwick Police Department said Chief Col. Stephen McCartney yesterday.
“I’m disappointed at its passage,” McCartney said. “I don’t think that it addressed all the concerns and while I understand there are certain compassion concerns, and there for people who are sick, I think there are still a lot of issues and situations that are not addressed in that statute.”
McCartney said he remains most concerned about where patients will get their marijuana – an issue the law does not address.
“I think the problem is really going to be while you’re not exactly going after the person, you’re just wondering where does the marijuana come from?”
McCartney said he expects the law to be abused and is planning on holding discussions about how to handle the law within the department.
“I think you’re going to have to take a look at the circumstances,” he said. “I think you’re going to have to take a look at the situation and I think we’re obviously going to have to use some common sense.”
Also opposed to the law were six Democrats and seven Republicans who joined and the State Police, the Rhode Island Department of Heath and Chief Judge of Rhode Island Family Court Jeremiah S. Jeremiah in opposing the override.
Every Warwick representative voted in favor of the override except Joseph Trillo (R-Dist. 24).
Trillo said he voted to sustain the override because he agreed with the governor and police that the law would be abused.
“I just think that the people got caught up in helping people but I think they’re overlooking all the potential for abuse, which is enormous,” Trillo said.
Trillo said he remained concerned that caregivers would abuse the system and called the amendments, including a sunset clause, an ineffective way to placate such concerns.
“It’s still a bad law, so you’re sun-setting in 2007, so what? This says we can allow 100 drug pushers to operate legally for a year,” Trillo said.
The rest of the Warwick House delegation sided with bill sponsor Thomas Slater (D-Dist. 10, Providence) who said patients should not be criminalized for following their doctors’ orders.
“I would certainly hope that everyone has compassion for these people with illnesses,” said Rep. Eileen Naughton (D-Dist. 21). “We’ll find ways in the system it won’t be abused.”
To prevent abuse, the law requires marijuana to be grown in a secured area and forbids anyone with a criminal record from participating in the program.
Rep. Joseph McNamara (D-Dist. 19) said such safety measures and a constituent convinced him to vote to override the veto.
Standing next to O’Donnell, McNamara said a 32-year-old constituent with Tourette’s Syndrome told him that with the use of marijuana he could reduce the level of life-shorting medication that he would otherwise have to take.
Speaker William Murphy (D-Dist. 26), whose district includes part of Warwick, also favored the override as well as Warwick Representatives Robert Flaherty (D-Dist. 23), Al Gemma (D-Dist. 20), Peter Ginaitt (D-Dist. 22) and Norman Landroche (D-Dist. 27).
While the law goes into effect immediately, the state Department of Health has 90 days to draw up regulations.
Source: Warwick Beacon (RI)
Author: Chris Barrett
Published: January 05, 2006
Copyright: 2006 Warwick Beacon
Contact: info@warwickonline.com
Website: Warwick Beacon
The law passed Tuesday allows a patient with a “debilitating medical condition” such as cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, HIV or Hepatitis C to grow or otherwise obtain at one time up to 12 marijuana plants or 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana under a doctor’s supervision.
In addition, the law allows the patient to select one or two caregivers, who must be at least 21, that can legally grow and handle the patient’s marijuana. Patients and their caregivers must register with the state Department of Health and carry registration cards.
Warwick resident Rhonda O’Donnell, a former nurse who doctors diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1994, said she was “thrilled and elated” the override passed.
“I had been getting assurances it would pass but I didn’t believe it until I saw it,” said O’Donnell from the back of the House on Tuesday.
O’Donnell had fought alongside her supporters for several years to allow the state to legalize medical marijuana and said she is anxious to see if it helps her pain and stiffness in her legs.
“I’ve already talked to my doctors they’re behind me,” O’Donnell said.
She added that her friends with chronic illnesses are also pleased with the law.
“Everybody is happy,” she said. “In fact, I’ve gotten a couple personal things because some people have been doing [marijuana] and now they’re so relieved they don’t have to worry about getting arrested busted or whatever.”
Her son Tom O’Donnell said the law would bring relief to his family.
“It’s going to mean that my mom can follow her doctor’s recommendation without fear of being arrested, fined or having her home seized, so this will put my family at ease,” he said.
Rhode Island Chapter Program Director Gwen Reeve of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society said the society has no official stand on the law’s passage.
“We really base our stance on evidence-based research and the studies that have come out don’t really show objective [medical] improvement,” Reeve said.
When asked if the law couldn’t hurt, Reeve said, “It’s still against the federal law isn’t it? I think that’s a real consideration.”
While marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, the legislation notes that 99 percent of marijuana arrests are made at the state level and the state is under no obligation to enforce federal law.
Reeve said the society recommends patients interested in using marijuana talk with their doctors and hopes researchers will run extensive studies now that marijuana has been legalized in 11 states.
“I think they need to do more studies and the more studies they do will give them a little more strength, yes it’s a good thing, or no it’s not really benefitting this,” she said.
Also waiting to see the effects of the law is the Warwick Police Department said Chief Col. Stephen McCartney yesterday.
“I’m disappointed at its passage,” McCartney said. “I don’t think that it addressed all the concerns and while I understand there are certain compassion concerns, and there for people who are sick, I think there are still a lot of issues and situations that are not addressed in that statute.”
McCartney said he remains most concerned about where patients will get their marijuana – an issue the law does not address.
“I think the problem is really going to be while you’re not exactly going after the person, you’re just wondering where does the marijuana come from?”
McCartney said he expects the law to be abused and is planning on holding discussions about how to handle the law within the department.
“I think you’re going to have to take a look at the circumstances,” he said. “I think you’re going to have to take a look at the situation and I think we’re obviously going to have to use some common sense.”
Also opposed to the law were six Democrats and seven Republicans who joined and the State Police, the Rhode Island Department of Heath and Chief Judge of Rhode Island Family Court Jeremiah S. Jeremiah in opposing the override.
Every Warwick representative voted in favor of the override except Joseph Trillo (R-Dist. 24).
Trillo said he voted to sustain the override because he agreed with the governor and police that the law would be abused.
“I just think that the people got caught up in helping people but I think they’re overlooking all the potential for abuse, which is enormous,” Trillo said.
Trillo said he remained concerned that caregivers would abuse the system and called the amendments, including a sunset clause, an ineffective way to placate such concerns.
“It’s still a bad law, so you’re sun-setting in 2007, so what? This says we can allow 100 drug pushers to operate legally for a year,” Trillo said.
The rest of the Warwick House delegation sided with bill sponsor Thomas Slater (D-Dist. 10, Providence) who said patients should not be criminalized for following their doctors’ orders.
“I would certainly hope that everyone has compassion for these people with illnesses,” said Rep. Eileen Naughton (D-Dist. 21). “We’ll find ways in the system it won’t be abused.”
To prevent abuse, the law requires marijuana to be grown in a secured area and forbids anyone with a criminal record from participating in the program.
Rep. Joseph McNamara (D-Dist. 19) said such safety measures and a constituent convinced him to vote to override the veto.
Standing next to O’Donnell, McNamara said a 32-year-old constituent with Tourette’s Syndrome told him that with the use of marijuana he could reduce the level of life-shorting medication that he would otherwise have to take.
Speaker William Murphy (D-Dist. 26), whose district includes part of Warwick, also favored the override as well as Warwick Representatives Robert Flaherty (D-Dist. 23), Al Gemma (D-Dist. 20), Peter Ginaitt (D-Dist. 22) and Norman Landroche (D-Dist. 27).
While the law goes into effect immediately, the state Department of Health has 90 days to draw up regulations.
Source: Warwick Beacon (RI)
Author: Chris Barrett
Published: January 05, 2006
Copyright: 2006 Warwick Beacon
Contact: info@warwickonline.com
Website: Warwick Beacon
