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Patients Tell Lawmakers: Fix Governor's Mistake, Override Medical Marijuana Veto
06-05-07|MPP

Patients and health care advocates reacted swiftly to yesterday's veto by Gov. Donald Carcieri (R) of legislation to make the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act permanent, urging legislators to override the action. If the General Assembly fails to override the veto, the law will expire June 30.

Michael Oliver of Barrington, who uses medical marijuana to relieve the devastating symptoms of Crohn's disease, said, "I don't understand why the governor wants to put me in jail for using the medicine that has given me back a normal life. I can only hope the legislature will override this cruel, pointless veto."

"We are disappointed and hope that the legislature will move quickly to override this veto," said Al Wroblewski, interim executive director of AIDS Project Rhode Island. "There is clear scientific data showing that medical marijuana can help people with AIDS, and the clients we serve shouldn't be forced to become criminals to get effective treatment. The medical marijuana law has worked well, and there is no reason to go back to the dark days of threatening sick people with jail."

"The governor is out of step not only with Rhode Island voters, but with the state's medical community, including the medical society and nurses' association, which support this legislation," said Ray Warren, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C., which has been working closely with local activists in support of the bill. "We are confident that legislators will continue to listen to science rather than superstition and override this ill-considered veto."

Twelve states now have laws protecting medical marijuana patients. The newest, in New Mexico, was signed into law by Gov. Bill Richardson (D) in April.

With more than 21,000 members and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. For more information, please visit www.MarijuanaPolicy.org.