It’s happening. The sale of recreational marijuana to adults 21-and-older begins Thursday. Last May, the Rhode Island legislature legalized recreational marijuana use for adults, allowing a limited number of existing dispensaries to start selling on December 1st (new operations will open once they have cleared various regulatory hurdles and such). Here in Providence we have …
Good news! Following floor debates in both chambers of the General Assembly earlier today, a majority of Rhode Island legislators have approved legislation to legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis for adults. Governor McKee who has previously indicated he would sign the measure. With the governor’s approval, Rhode Island will become the 19th state to end …
Could this be the year? The conversation surrounding the legalization of recreational marijuana for adults sounds different this year. Once again, as he has done every year for at least a decade, Senator Josh Miller — along with Senate Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey — has introduced a bill that would do just that. According …
(12.5) So how did things shake out for marijuana reform in the upheaval of the recent election? The President-elect has, in the past, indicated that marijuana regulation should be left to the states . . . so we could work with that. But then he goes and nominates Alabama senator, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III — …
Condemnation for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s decision to keep marijuana listed as a Schedule I drug has been universal. The DEA defines Schedule I drugs, substances, and chemicals as “. . . drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” Those in the medical field have argued that it is …
We’re ‘Number One’ and it has not gone unnoticed. Last night’s ‘Weekend Update’ poked a little fun at the recently released survey on marijuana usage. Might as well embrace this whole thing because it seems to indicate that everyone in Rhode Island who wants to smoke pot is smoking pot. Isn’t it time we ensured …
[Front page coverage in the ProJo! Remember to vote in their poll. And congratulations to Jared Moffat for organizing such an informative and well-run event — even the sound worked! The range of speakers with their unique perspectives illuminated both the problem and the solution. BC] (11.18) Regulate Rhode Island has organized an educational community …
Advocates for the repeal of marijuana prohibition will be back in the 2015 session of the General Assembly in support of legislation that would regulate and tax marijuana like alcohol. Locally this effort is being organized by the excellent people over at Regulate Rhode Island, a coalition of citizens and organizations hoping to legalize the …
Regulate RI Prepares Push For Marijuana Legalization Read More »
(9.18) Regulate Rhode Island presents ‘Cannabis Caucus’ Thursday at Aurora, an evening of music and conversation about how our coalition is moving cannabis policy reform forward in Rhode Island. (Facebook page.) We are inviting anyone from the public who is interested in cannabis policy reform to attend, especially lawmakers and other leaders in our community. …
The good people over at Regulate Rhode Island have been spearheading the effort to pass legislation that would tax and regulate marijuana in Rhode Island. They have been organizing, lobbying, and spreading the word, but now it’s time for you to step up. (Why Regulation? — go here.) You need to contact your legislators and …
I have a piece in today’s Providence Journal — “Drug war has failed; legalize marijuana” — in which I take the ProJo editorial board to task for their recent opposition to the legalization of marijuana. My advocacy concerning the war on drugs and the reform of marijuana laws is known to regular Dose readers — …
At a press conference last week State Rep. Edith H. Ajello (D-Providence) and State Senator Joshua Miller (D-Cranston) officially announced that they are once again sponsoring a bill to regulate and tax the sale of marijuana — effectively legalizing it for adult recreational use as in Washington and Colorado. (I also spoke at this press …
(1.22) Get out of the house, mingle with like-minded people, and learn something as the RI Progressive Democrats co-host Drinking Liberally at the Wild Colonial Tavern. Drink away the cold and get ready for what is bound to be a busy and exciting year with your friends at Providence Drinking Liberally! We’re happy to have …
The marijuana decriminalization law, passed by the general assembly last summer and signed into law by Governor Chafee, will take effect on the first nanosecond of Monday, April 1st. Possession of small amounts of marijuana will no longer carry criminal penalties in Rhode Island. The indispensable Robert Capecchi of the Marijuana Policy Project has the …
Marijuana Decrim Law Takes Effect Monday, April 1 Read More »
The House Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on the Marijuana Regulation, Control, and Taxation Act (HB-5274) at 4:30pm, Wednesday, February 27th. Passage of this legislation means Rhode Island would join Colorado and Washington state in legalizing the recreational use of marijuana for adults. Washington Governor Jay Inslee is moving forward, instructing the state …
House Committee Hearing On Marijuana Regulation And Taxation Read More »
Attitudes are changing across the country regarding marijuana reform. A piece at HuffPo — “Colorado, Washington Pot Legalization Deals Drug War Major Blow” — has a great quote from my LEAP cohort Tom Angell. “To put this into historical context, there is no historical context,” said Tom Angell, spokesperson for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. “It’s …
Attention Pols — Support Marijuana Reform And Be A Winner Read More »