neighbors, like Massachusetts, that have
already done so. In October, she joined the
governors of New York, Massachusetts,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut
to adopt a regional approach to cannabis
and vaping legislation and policies and
settle on some “core principles” regarding
market regulation, public health and safety
and enforcement and best practices. And
in November, Raimondo said she was
“exploring the possibility of once again
including the legalization of adult-use
marijuana.”
Complete legalization has languished
since 2010, when the first recreational
marijuana regulation bill was heard in
committee.
But the Marijuana Policy Project, the
advocacy organization behind the local
lobbying effort, Regulate RI, has pulled
back, because “Every year, we run up
against the brick wall of the speaker and
the senate president,” says former Regu-
late RI director Jared Moffat. “In Rhode
Island, there’s not a willingness to putting
any staff or resources into looking at this
issue. Until there’s a change in leadership
or a change in attitude, our chances are
not very good.”
The biggest losers are the vanguards
of legalization — the medical marijuana
patients, who fought for the right to come
out of the black market’s shadows and
buy their medicine without criminal
consequences.
“There’s something wrong with the
attitude in this state,” says Ellen Smith, a
patient and long-time activist. “They’ve
forgotten why this whole thing started.”
They complain of constantly shifting
regulations and taxes on home growers,
who do so to keep down costs, maintain
their privacy or ensure a steady supply
of a strain that is most effective in treat-
ing their particular condition. Each year,
they gather themselves to fight off bills
that would eliminate home growing
altogether.
“A lot of people out there who are hurting
can’t afford to be going to the dispensa-
ries. The prices are out of control,” says
Phil Diamond, who treats his glaucoma
with cannabis and grows for himself and
four other medical marijuana patients.
“Compassion centers. There’s nothing
compassionate about them. It’s all about
the money.”
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