5 Years Later, Marijuana Oversight Committee Failed to be Appointed by Legislature

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Kate Nagle, GoLocalProv News Editor

In what looks like another regulatory failure in Rhode Island, the Marijuana Oversight Commission that was required as part of the legislation that legalized medical marijuana has never been appointed in five years.

The Oversight Commission was created in the legislation in order to protect patients and to evaluate physician involvement as well as other responsibilities.

As part of GoLocal's investigation, the Commission has never been appointed and now concerns about the programs are mounting.

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Lack of Oversight Comes into Focus

Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello's office blames Gordon Fox, his predecessor. Today, Fox is serving three years in federal prison.

"After your phone call, our legal counsel did some research. Several years ago, before Speaker Mattiello was in charge, the medical marijuana law passed and it included a provision for the General Assembly to appoint a nine-member oversight committee, said Larry Berman, the Speaker's spokesperson.

"Apparently this was never done. I informed Speaker Mattiello today and he said he will address the issue in the new session which begins in January," continued Berman.

Rhode Island's Department of Health also failed to realize that the key part of the regulatory structure was created.

"The Department of Health doesn’t have any direct involvement with the oversight committee. The legislation calls for the general assembly to convene the committee, and specifies who sits on the committee," said Joseph Wendelken, Acting Public Information Officer at the RI Department of Health.

See the provision of the state law below.

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Legislative oversight committee.

(1) The general assembly shall appoint a nine (9) member oversight committee comprised of:

one member of the house of representatives;

one member of the senate;

one physician to be selected from a list provided by the Rhode Island medical society;

one nurse to be selected from a list provided by the Rhode Island state nurses association;

two (2) registered qualifying patients;

one registered primary caregiver;

one patient advocate to be selected from a list provided by the Rhode Island patient advocacy coalition;

and one representative of the law enforcement community.

(2) The oversight committee shall meet at least six (6) times per year for the purpose of 4 evaluating and making recommendations to the general assembly regarding: (i) Patients' access to medical marijuana;

(ii) Efficacy of compassion center;

(iii) Physician participation in the Medical Marijuana Program;

(iv) The definition of qualifying medical condition;

(v) Research studies regarding health effects of medical marijuana for patients.

(3) On or before January 1 of every even numbered year, the oversight committee shall 11 report to the general assembly on its findings.

Related Slideshow: The Highest Marijuana Prices in 2015 in New England by State

Forbes.com recently released a graphic that looks at how much an ounce of marijuana costs in every state in America, as well as the District of Columbia. The national average is $324.

Below is a look at where New England states fall in the rankings, as well as where marijuana is the most expensive and least expensive nationally.