Regulate RI Seeks to Make Rhode Island the Next State to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol
Thursday, November 06, 2014
Following the end of marijuana prohibition in Alaska and Oregon, Rhode Island could become the next state by passing a law to regulate marijuana like alcohol through the state legislature in 2015.
Proposals to regulate marijuana like alcohol are expected to appear on the ballots in at least five more states in 2016.
The statements below are from Regulate Rhode Island coalition members.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTStatement from Jared Moffat, director of Regulate Rhode Island:
“The results are in, and marijuana prohibition is on its way out. Americans are fed up with wasteful and ineffective laws that punish adults for using a less harmful substance than alcohol. The results are particularly encouraging since voter turnout during a midterm election is typically smaller, older, and more conservative. Clearly, support for ending marijuana prohibition spans the political and ideological spectrums.
“Many newly elected state leaders in Rhode Island focused their campaign messages around rebuilding Rhode Island’s economy. Establishing a system to regulate and tax marijuana would create hundreds of new jobs and generate tens of millions of dollars in additional tax revenue for the state. Rhode Island can give itself a head start advantage over other states in the region by becoming the first East Coast state to end marijuana prohibition in 2015.”
Statement from Elizabeth A. Comery, retired lawyer and former Providence police officer:
“I am part of the Regulate Rhode Island coalition because when I worked for the Providence Police Department, I saw firsthand how destructive and ineffective our punitive marijuana laws are. Like alcohol prohibition, marijuana prohibition has not stopped Americans from using the substance. Prohibition simply steers profits to violent drug cartels that grow and sell marijuana illegally. It would be much better from a public safety perspective to regulate marijuana and have it sold by responsible business owners who must operate within the law. The results in Oregon and Alaska show that our nation is quickly moving towards repealing marijuana prohibition, and I hope Rhode Island will soon follow.”
Statement from Dr. James Crowley, physician and former president of the Rhode Island Medical Society:
“Health professionals increasingly support regulating cannabis because they have seen after more than four decades that prohibition does not promote public health. Regulation is far better than prohibition because it allows the state to ensure that cannabis is produced under safe and sanitary conditions and labeled with information about potency. Moreover, by taxing cannabis we can re-direct revenue streams away from the illicit cannabis industry, which has no interest in promoting public health, and into vital services like substance use disorder prevention and treatment programs.”
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