NEW: Rep. Watson Arrested on Pot Charges Again
Monday, January 23, 2012
Former House Minority Leader Robert Watson was arrested for the second time in less than a year early Sunday Morning on possession of marijuana charges.
The East Greenwich Republican was arrested last April in Connecticut and charged with drunken driving and possession of marijuana.
Following his arrest last year, House Republicans chose to make a change in leadership, promoting Brian C. Newberry to Minority Leader.
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A call to Representative Watson was not returned.
Last year, Watson was stopped by an East Haven police officer on Route 80 and he was charged with DUI, although a breath test at the scene placed Watson's blood alcohol content at 0.05 percent (the legal limit in CT is 0.08 percent).
Watson admitted to using pot for medical purposed but said he did not seek the approval of the state Health Department for his medical marijuana. At the time, he said he had been worried that his personal information might make it out into the public eye—and he did not want to become the poster child for medical marijuana in Rhode Island.
According to East Haven police, Watson tested positive for cocaine and marijuana following his arrest.