xxdr_zombiexx

Unprecedented Bipartisan Coalition Introduces Medical Marijuana Bill in Rhode Island House
FEBRUARY 12 12, 2004 @ 5:48 PM | Common Dreams
CONTACT: Marijuana Policy Project |Krissy Oechslin 202-462-5747 x115

WASHINGTON - February 12 - PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND -- A medical marijuana bill introduced last week in the Rhode Island House is supported by an unprecedented bipartisan coalition of legislators. Like the successful and popular laws in Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawai'i, Maine, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington, H.B. 7588 would permit seriously ill patients to use and possess medical marijuana with their doctors' approval, without fear of arrest or jail.

Twenty representatives are signed on to the bill, including lead sponsor Thomas Slater (D-Providence). "This bill is about simple compassion and common sense. People fighting cancer, MS, or AIDS shouldn't have to suffer needlessly when medical marijuana can provide relief, and their doctors recommend it," said Rep. Slater.

An identical medical marijuana bill was introduced on February 11 in the Rhode Island Senate by Rhoda Perry (D-Providence) and four other sponsors.

Legislation to protect medical marijuana patients has drawn wide support from the medical and public health communities, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of HIV Medicine, the New England Journal of Medicine, and the American Nurses Association.

"Medical marijuana should be an option open to patients who are not benefiting from other medicines to improve HIV wasting," said Kenneth Mayer, M.D., director of the Brown University AIDS Program and chief of the Infectious Disease Division of the Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island.

"Right now, Rhode Island patients battling cancer, AIDS, or other life-threatening diseases face jail for trying to relieve their pain and nausea, but we are optimistic that this cruel and unnecessary policy will soon come to an end," said Neal Levine, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C.

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Torture Good, Healthcare Bad, Marijuana Evil.

There's no money for your issue so long as we're squandering $50 billion a year on the DrugWar. Ben Masel

stranger

we should be able to use cannabis with our own approval. why should i pay a doctor for permission to use a substance evryone knows is harmless? its a positive step and i hope it passes but i think they're just figuring out how to "cash in" and using sick people to boot.its way past the time for legalization.we should'nt have to pay extra for something that is free.we've payed enough already hell this country's so rich that every american should never have to pay another medical bill ever but what do they do with our money when they get elected? they pay their friends to rebuild other countries they've destroyed.they blame us for supporting terrorism and use our money to arrest us while they continue to lie ,cheat and steal their ways through life.it's appalling really.novembers coming and bush is gone.wooohoooo.

zigfreid

DAmn!!!! Now the see the light? Still...!! Don't give up the fight !

smoking_joe_lee

This is another step in the right direction for marijuana reform. The key word is "bipartisan." Without the support of both major parties, no real progress will be made. It is also suprising that Doctor Zombie would post this story in that it gives some credit to THAT OTHER PARTY.
PS
when the site was revised my logon name and password would no longer work. Since football season was over and I am really a Raiders fan, not Panthers a new name seemed a good Idea. Now maybe he won't hate me...

melikeytosmokey

GREAT! maybe the rest of the states will take the stick out of their ass too!

Higher Self

It is also suprising that Doctor Zombie would post this story in that it gives some credit to THAT OTHER PARTY.




I'm sure that the good doctor zombie's primary intent/function is more about marijuana reform than it is about partisan politics.

Medical marijuana reform is about lifting the Human Spirit, raising the qualitity of life, for those souls who are suffering from an array of physical maladies. It's about letting these folks know that it's OK to make themselves feel a little better.

The good doctor does an excellent job as an internet rumormonger and conspiracy theorist, I might add.

firsttimer

Just like Communism. They fall like a dominos effect. Right on Rode Island....

concerto

This is good news indeed!! We keep on winning battles state by state for medicinal marijuana and then people become more open to the idea of outright legalization!! The tide is indeed turning in our favor and we must keep up the good fight!!

__________________
Life is like getting blood from a stone,
we all live by cards that were dealt
I don't want no promises, don't want no lies
go sell them to somebody else...Yngwie J. Malmsteen