T. C. SLATER, WHO LED A STATE EFFORT ON MARIJUANA, IS DEAD AT 68

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- State Representative Thomas C. Slater, who
successfully urged legalizing medical marijuana in Rhode Island, died
Monday at his home in Providence. He was 68.

The cause was cancer, other legislative leaders on the issue said in
announcing his death.

Despite being seriously ill, Mr. Slater, Democrat of Providence,
attended General Assembly sessions this summer to oversee an
expansion of the state's medical marijuana program.

A former Marine first elected to office in 1994, Mr. Slater was best
known for sponsoring legislation that in 2006 made Rhode Island the
11th state in the country to allow chronically ill patients to
possess small amounts of marijuana to ease their symptoms. The drug
remains illegal under federal law.

Mr. Slater cast the sole vote in 2005 against an amendment naming the
new law for him.

The law had a defect: it never explained how patients could legally
buy the drug. At Mr. Slater's urging, lawmakers passed legislation
this year by a wide margin allowing up to three nonprofit stores to
sell marijuana legally to registered patients.

He is survived by his wife, Jody McKiernan, and three children.