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Medical Marijuana News Update
The Coalition
for Medical Marijuana includes:
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As expected, Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri vetoed the medical marijuana legislation which reached his desk recently. Proponents have enough votes to override the governor. The Providence Journal reported June 5, 2007 ("Carcieri Vetoes Medical Marijuana") that "As expected, Governor Carcieri yesterday vetoed medical marijuana legislation. And Democratic House leader Gordon Fox said he believes state lawmakers will override that veto." According to the Journal, "51 of 75 House members endorsed the measure. Forty-five votes, or three-fifths, are required to overturn a veto. The bill, known as the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act, calls for permanently extending the medical marijuana law, which was due to expire this year under a sunset clause. 'I fully expect that we will place a vote to override the governor's medical marijuana veto on the floor calendar before the end of our session,' Fox said in a statement anticipating the veto. A prior vote on the bill 'made it clear that there is an overwhelming majority in the House willing to remove the sunset clause on this compassionate legislation.'" The Journal noted that under the legislation, "A patient diagnosed as having a debilitating medical condition would be allowed to possess up to 12 marijuana plants and 2.5 ounces of marijuana. An adult who has agreed to help an ill person's medical use of marijuana - a caregiver - could have 12 plants and 2.5 ounces of marijuana for each of up to five qualified patients."
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