Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
The House and Senate have stopped considering legislation to legalize recreational pot and instead opted to create a 19-member joint commission to study the situation in states like Washington and Colorado, where it's already legal.
Rep. Dennis Canario introduced the measure to create the commission in the House. He argued there was too much at stake in terms of marijuana's impact on public health and state finances.
"The potential effects of legalizing recreational marijuana in Rhode Island would have drastic impacts to the fabric of our state and this commission is necessary to determine if those effects would come with positive or negative outcomes," Canario said.
Sen. Cynthia Coyne sponsored the legislation in the Senate.
"We should take full advantage of other states' experiences and learn about whether we should follow in their footsteps or perhaps take a different approach to avoid any problems they may have encountered," Coyne said.
The commission would have three members from each chamber of the General Assembly. It would also consist of members from marijuana advocacy groups, state educators, and state health officials.
But not all marijuana advocates support studying legalization further.
Regulate Rhode Island is a coalition leading the legalization effort. Director of the organization Jared Moffat has called the commission a "delay tactic."
"It would engage in the same legalization debate that has already taken place during the legislative process," Moffat said. "It is not intended to find a solution to Rhode Island's marijuana prohibition problem; it is intended to avoid one."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Lawmakers Say Recreational Marijuana Issue Requires Study Group | Rhode Island Public Radio
Author: Ximena Conde
Contact: Contact | Rhode Island Public Radio
Photo Credit: FLICKR
Website: Rhode Island Public Radio | 88.1 FM | 91.5 FM | 102.7 FM
Rep. Dennis Canario introduced the measure to create the commission in the House. He argued there was too much at stake in terms of marijuana's impact on public health and state finances.
"The potential effects of legalizing recreational marijuana in Rhode Island would have drastic impacts to the fabric of our state and this commission is necessary to determine if those effects would come with positive or negative outcomes," Canario said.
Sen. Cynthia Coyne sponsored the legislation in the Senate.
"We should take full advantage of other states' experiences and learn about whether we should follow in their footsteps or perhaps take a different approach to avoid any problems they may have encountered," Coyne said.
The commission would have three members from each chamber of the General Assembly. It would also consist of members from marijuana advocacy groups, state educators, and state health officials.
But not all marijuana advocates support studying legalization further.
Regulate Rhode Island is a coalition leading the legalization effort. Director of the organization Jared Moffat has called the commission a "delay tactic."
"It would engage in the same legalization debate that has already taken place during the legislative process," Moffat said. "It is not intended to find a solution to Rhode Island's marijuana prohibition problem; it is intended to avoid one."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Lawmakers Say Recreational Marijuana Issue Requires Study Group | Rhode Island Public Radio
Author: Ximena Conde
Contact: Contact | Rhode Island Public Radio
Photo Credit: FLICKR
Website: Rhode Island Public Radio | 88.1 FM | 91.5 FM | 102.7 FM
