CARCIERI VETOES MEDICAL MARIJUANA

PROVIDENCE - As expected, Governor Carcieri yesterday vetoed medical
marijuana legislation. And Democratic House leader Gordon Fox said he
believes state lawmakers will override that veto.

"I support efforts to provide effective pain management to persons
suffering from debilitating conditions, but not in a way that
violates federal law and ignores the drug approval process as
established by the Food and Drug Administration," Carcieri, a
Republican, said in his veto message.

He said the legislation "could potentially subject Rhode Islanders to
federal prosecution, while significantly complicating the
responsibilities of state and local law enforcement officials."

But last month, 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."

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.