Our favorite reader submissions. Fri Dec 11, 2009 more galleries 63

Jesse Ventura is an inspiring American icon and probably the only person who can discuss deep …

Thu Mar 11, 2010 more videos 2

R.I. Senate to Vote on Bill Permitting Marijuana Sales

Tue, May 13, 2008 11:17 am

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Rhode Island's Senate is expected to vote on a bill allowing nonprofit stores to sell marijuana to chronically ill patients.

The proposal was scheduled for a floor vote Tuesday afternoon in the Senate. If adopted, it would then head to the House.

In 2006, Rhode Island became the eleventh state to permit medical patients and their caregivers to possess small amounts of marijuana. But state lawmakers never specified how patients were supposed to buy marijuana.

The drug remains illegal under federal law.

Rep. Thomas Slater, who supports the proposal, says Rhode Island needs regulated marijuana stores so patients are not attacked by violent street dealers. Federal officials oppose the medical marijuana program and have raided marijuana shops in California.

» add a comment

aph rhode island

Jul 24 2008, 11:21 pm

I'm live in rhode islandand weed is as prevalent hear or more so than most states; regardless of laws.
Fuck the system,
wait till my generation is in power!

opinion

Jun 6 2008, 6:11 pm

We are all sitting here preaching to the chior. Why doesnt the NORML, High Times, and other activist groups advertise in regular civilian periodicals or billboards to educate and motivate the average person with no cannabis knowledge?

We can all help by posting on regular (non marijuana based) news and discussion forums. Take the knowledge you gain here and from groups like NORML and repost to educate the average American.

Thats the key !!!

noone

May 20 2008, 2:47 pm

Personally, i dont smoke pot alot. a couple times a month on occasion, like how i drink. In canada the achohol is controlled 100% by the government. all stores selling achohol (i dont mean bars or clubs, like bottles) are either beer store or lcbo (in ontario). This puts alot of control. How many people make their own achohol? or buy it from a dealer? Now, if they made something like that for weed. like an MCBO for example. on which the government controls the quality and safety of the products and also id for a minimum age like achohol. not only would weed be safer and more regulated, also how many people would grow their own or deal when people can go down the street to buy a couple grams at a store? alot less.

umm

May 18 2008, 1:17 pm

to hater,

Your dis-ease with me is telling of an emotional disorder of your own.

to umm

May 18 2008, 9:12 am

You are the exact wrong person to be yelling "wheres your proof " !

danny danko

May 17 2008, 6:52 pm

umm

May 16 2008, 3:50 pm

re: to courtney

I haven't encountered any harm associated from vaporized cannabis. Where is your proof there is any harm from VAPORIZED Cannabis?

to courtney black:

May 15 2008, 8:55 pm

CourtneyBlack...You are wrong.. marijuana is harmful, and so is lots of things we consume. The argument however is that the penalties imposed on pot users does more harm to them than the actual drug itself. I have smoked for many years and there are adverse effects. But just cause you smoke the herb you should rot in jail next to a rapist or other violent criminal for a similar amount of time? Decrimnalize It already.... support NORML.

og loc

May 14 2008, 11:49 pm

just leagalize weed an it will solve all the worlds problems!

joesmoke

May 14 2008, 4:45 pm

They could never just come out and legalize it because they would have to amite they were wrong and free everyone in jail , but as states make medical avalible to patients it should help other poeple understand it more and eventualy 10 to 20 years become legal ,hey im all for making it legal but it takes alot of time to make it happen nixon already had that commison say that mj was far less worse than alcohal , he just threw it away they need to do another commision and let everyone know the results

ShayneA10

May 14 2008, 11:45 am

I have smoked pot for 34 yrs. I have had a stroke and survived Cancer , it helps , all the medication I take pot helps my appitite and pain. Legalize !!!

continue: Awesome!!

May 13 2008, 11:11 pm

also if this goes through, someone should be incharge of watching how the sales improve for RI. :) just a thought.... maybe it could help the whole US....*gasp* WOW! think about it no more debt....to any outside country. there would be enough in sales (if the whole us was legal) to help end this problem! :)
~*~Later~*~

Awesome!!

May 13 2008, 11:07 pm

i agree that sounds like a good idea. ppl that need it shouldnt have to go through dealers, they should be able to buy it in a regular store or even go the hospital! but they cant be evil (like a dealer might...) charging OUTRAGEOUS prices, because they need it! anyway, if i lived there i would vote yes on the plan!

courteney black

May 13 2008, 9:33 pm

i've been a smoker everyday for the past 4 years, If the govn't would just do some basic testing on ppl like me, and they would actually understand the benefits and that they would make 15 billion dollars a year in taxes, then maybe ppl would understand that it does NO bad

Matt F

May 13 2008, 5:51 pm

I think we need to look into herion. i lost a love one to that! now thats a drug! marijuana, i smoke practally everyday, im 16, and i think our gov takes marijuana too seriously by keeping it illeagle. while they are buying opium from other countrys and killing our people they could be smoking a plant that will actally save their lives in ways. Add me on myspace Matt~Fazzio. thank you

Slater

May 13 2008, 5:44 pm

Lmfao, "Violent" street dealers.
I get a kick out of that.

Sean Terry

May 13 2008, 4:15 pm

Actually toker, Marijuana has thousands of uses other than smoking,(though smoking is a favorite), this incredible plant could save most of the worlds problems today. Look somthing up man.
LEGALIZE

Chimpo

May 13 2008, 4:02 pm

I think that medical marijuana should be legal to anyone who needs it. Marijuana helps me to interact with people that I don't know (like at a family reunion). Marijuana helps me so that I don't feel all alone and afraid, and I'm able to meet family members that I otherwise would never know.

toker

May 13 2008, 3:33 pm

they need to legalize it completely!
there is no other use for it other than smoking it.
hell, it was put on the earth for a reason :p.
they need to focus more on the more dangerous drugs.

Stephen MacLeod

May 13 2008, 2:57 pm

This is another states' rights issue. The federal government's laws trump those of the state, much the same as firearms laws. A friend of mine recently had his right to own firearms reinstated after a state felony charge expired and was expunged from his record. The problem is that even though he is allowed to purchase and own firearms in the state of Tennessee, he still is not allowed to do so by the federal government.

As long as we allow the U.S. government to supersede laws our local and state governments legitimately pass, states such as Rhode Island and California can pass as many laws as they want, but will always be trumped by Washington. It's time the American citizenry takes the power back!

www.myspace.com/codysdad2002

Stephen MacLeod

May 13 2008, 2:55 pm

anonymous

May 13 2008, 2:24 pm

Why cant the just legalize n regulate it so everyone will be happy

anonymous

May 13 2008, 2:22 pm

Well its a catch 22 cuz u have the right to smoke it but not the right to buy. Then when you actually do buy it people are being arrested when they had permission from there doctors

Lil Debi

May 13 2008, 2:21 pm

so this is probably the greatest thing to happen in R.I. in a long long time!! i live in vermont and am running for Miss High Times. I would do everything possible to legalize in my home state.

Thanks for Everything High Times

LilDebi420