NEW: Compassion Centers Coming to RI
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
With final approval from the Senate Monday, the General Assembly gave its OK to legislation developed to address concerns about Rhode Island’s medical marijuana compassion centers, moving the state one step closer to allowing patients to safely purchase the drug.
The legislation is a compromise developed through talks between the sponsors, legislative leaders and Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee, who last year halted the issuing of licenses to the three facilities allowed under the 2009 state law establishing compassion centers. The Senate gave its final approval to the House bill today and will be sent to the governor, who signed the Senate version last week after it achieved final passage.
“This bill means hope for the many patients in Rhode Island who have been waiting for years to be able to get their medicine safely, without having to turn to the streets and the black market. I’m very hopeful that the compassion centers that were already in the process of becoming licensed will be able to pick up where they left off and be up and running in the near future,” said Senator Perry.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTSaid Representative Slater, whose late father, Rep. Thomas C. Slater, sponsored the state’s medical marijuana bill as well as the initial bill to establish compassion centers, “It’s more than time for this. My father proposed compassion centers because prescribing medical marijuana without giving patients a legal way to get it doesn’t really solve the problem. He would be very happy today to see that the state finally moving toward a sensible solution that lets the sick and dying get some relief from their suffering.”
The bill caps the amount of marijuana that a compassion center may grow and possess to address concerns that the magnitude of the marijuana and the resulting income it generates for privately run compassion centers might attract federal raids.
It also allows registered patients or caregivers who grow up to their allotted maximums, but do not use the entire amount for themselves or their patients, to sell the excess to a compassion center, as long as the limits of the grower and the purchasing center are not exceeded. That provision is designed to address concerns about the illegal sale and use of excess medical marijuana.
The bill was amended in committee to include several security measures, including a requirement for criminal background checks for those running or employed by compassion centers, with notification by the state police to the department of health if disqualifying offenses prohibit a person’s involvement with the compassion center. Also added were provisions allowing the state police to visit the compassion centers to make recommendations about security of the premises and personnel, and adding the State Police to the committee that will oversee the compassion center law. The bill also makes state employees exempt from state penalties when implementing this law.
At least two of the three centers that were already approved by the Department of Health after a public bidding process to be licensed have indicated they will be able to operate under the new limits, so leaders expect the centers will be able to move swiftly to open.
“Since the Rhode Island medical marijuana law invited federal action, I have been working with advocates on a remedy. I applaud Senator Perry and Representative Slater for their work and I look forward to passage of a bill that will avoid federal intervention and bring needed medicinal relief to those who stand to benefit,” said Governor Chafee when the bill was introduced earlier this year.
