The legalization of recreational marijuana in MA is causing some Rhode Island lawmakers to try to catch up to their neighbor and possibly race ahead. Even more approve of the idea of legalizing marijuana for medical use, a step that 28 states have taken.
According to a statement from marijuana legalization proponents Regulate RI, the bill would allow for Rhode Islanders 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and grow one plant in a secured space.
Mike Cerulo, a psycho-therapist and a founder of the group, "What’s the Rush Rhode Island", says the State needs to wait five years, to fully understand any effects on a community. "Now that MA has passed and made it clear the way things are headed", says the Marijuana Policy Project’s Mason Tvert, "these guys are going to want to jump in". Joshua Miller and state Rep. Scott Slater, are making a proximity argument this time around, saying that residents will simply cross the border to buy legal pot in MA and that Rhode Island will "lose significant ground" in the process. The Rhode Island lawmakers are also proposing higher taxes on marijuana sales, in line with Western states that have legalized marijuana. "This legislation represents a sensible policy reform that has been shown to work successfully in other states". Medical marijuana has been legal in the state since 2006.
A poll back in October 2016 by Gallup revealed that 60 percent of Americans support the legalization of recreational use of marijuana.
Late last month, MA lawmakers delayed until July 2018 and ME legislators were planning similar moves to delay the selling of the drug.
State Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Cranston) and State Rep. "Our constituents think it is time for lawmakers to pass this legislation, and we should listen to them", Miller stated. "We have had several years to see how regulation works in Colorado and Washington, and we have learned important lessons from their experiences".
"We got a lot of feedback from the governor’s office and other lawmakers", Moffat said.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Democratic Lawmakers Push For The Legalization Of Marijuana In Rhode Island
Author: Cheryl Sanders
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Photo Credit: David McNew
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