CHAFEE SHOULD TAKE CUE FROM N.J. ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA, SAYS ADVOCATE

PROVIDENCE -- Advocates of the state's medical-marijuana program are
hoping that Governor Chafee is paying close attention to New Jersey.

On Tuesday, New Jersey Gov. Christopher J. Christie gave the green
light to open six marijuana dispensaries to licensed patients
suffering from ailments such as cancer, chronic pain, muscular
dystrophy and multiple sclerosis. The surprise announcement came after
months of delays over concerns that federal authorities might
prosecute state employees affiliated with the medical-marijuana
program for drug violations.

Christie, a Republican, who served as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey
from 2002 through 2008, said he sought, but never received assurances
from the Justice Department that those working in the marijuana
programs would be exempt from federal prosecution.

"It's a risk that I'm taking as governor," said Christie at an
afternoon news conference. "But I'm taking that risk because I believe
the need to provide compassionate pain relief to these citizens of our
state outweighs the risk that we are taking in moving forward with the
program as it is set up."

JoAnne Leppanen, executive director of the Rhode Island Patient
Advocacy Coalition, said that Chafee should take a cue from Christie
and issue licenses to the three marijuana dispensaries in Rhode
Island. Chafee and his staff have repeatedly said that they are
uncomfortable issuing the licenses until they get some assurance that
state employees who work with the marijuana program will not be prosecuted.

Peter F. Neronha, the U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island, has failed to
give Chafee that assurance.

Michael F. Trainor, Chafee's spokesman, said the governor and his
legal staff continue to review the Justice Department's policy. He
said that Chafee has set no deadline to make a decision on the state's
dispensaries.

Leppanen hailed Christie's order to have the state Health Department
immediately contact the dispensary operators to find out how soon they
can open for business.

"I think it really answers all of the concerns that [Chafee] has had,"
she said. "There's no reason not to go ahead. We are less threatening
because we only have three dispensaries."

Leppanen has been trying to set up a meeting with Claire Richards,
Chafee's chief legal counsel.

Rhode Island and New Jersey are among 16 states and the District of
Columbia that have legalized the medical use of marijuana. In March,
after more than two years of review and public hearings, the state
selected three dispensary outfits to cultivate and sell marijuana to
patients. They are Summit Medical Compassion Center in Warwick, Thomas
C. Slater Compassion Center in Providence and Greenleaf Compassionate
Care Center in Portsmouth.

A month later, Neronha, the state's top federal prosecutor, delivered
a letter to Chafee warning him that those involved with the
dispensaries could be subject to criminal and civil prosecution if
they engaged in large-scale drug production operations. Summit
projected revenues of more than $24 million after three years, while
Slater and Greenleaf set three-year targets of nearly $4 million and
$1.2 million.

The size of the three dispensaries caught Neronha's attention. As a
result, Chafee and his staff placed the issuance of licenses on hold,
until they got further clarification from Neronha and the Justice Department.

Meanwhile, other New England states have decided to move forward with
their dispensary plans. At least two medical-marijuana stores have
opened in Maine, and Vermont's governor recently signed legislation to
open dispensaries in his state. The first one will probably open next
year.

Chris Reilly, spokesman for the Slater Center, issued a statement on
Wednesday that hailed the news from New Jersey.

"It is especially gratifying to see Governor Christie, who served
seven years as the United States Attorney for his state, conclude that
the limited risk of federal intervention is far outweighed by the need
of patients," he wrote. "We encourage Governor Chafee to follow the
lead of Governor Christie, along with the governors of Maine, Vermont
and Delaware who are all moving ahead with new medical-marijuana
dispensaries."

Dr. Seth Bock, proposed operator of Greenleaf, also urged Chafee to
issue the dispensary licenses.

"We are confident that Governor Chafee will take a similar and
courageous position in allowing compassion centers to move forward,"
he wrote. "We have seen in the past that Governor Chafee has not caved
to political pressures and stood up for what he believes to be in the
best interest of the people he represents."

Leppanen said the state's 3,700 licensed patients need the compassion
centers as a reliable source for quality marijuana. She said that
she's grateful there are more than 2,300 caregivers licensed to grow
smaller quantities of marijuana for medical use, but she said that's
not enough. Without dispensaries, Leppanen said that elderly patients
are being forced to illegally buy marijuana from drug dealers.