MEDICAL MARIJUANA? RHODE ISLAND SAYS YES

The Rhode Island legislature passed a bill yesterday allowing the use
of medical marijuana, three weeks after the Supreme Court ruled that
federal authorities could prosecute those who use the drug for
medicinal purposes, even in states with laws allowing it.

The bill passed the State Senate by a vote of 33 to 1 last evening
and will head to the desk of Gov. Donald L. Carcieri, who is likely
to reject it. Supporters of the bill, which passed the House 52 to 10
last week, are confident they have the necessary three-fifths
majority to override a veto and make Rhode Island the 11th state to
authorize patients to use the drug.

The law would allow those with a "debilitating medical condition,"
including cancer, glaucoma and AIDS, to receive a signed statement
from their doctor stating they would benefit from marijuana. Patients
and their caregivers would be entered into a registry kept by the
State Department of Health.

Patients, who must be Rhode Islanders, would receive a state
registration card allowing them or their caregivers to grow up to 12
marijuana plants indoors or possess up to 2.5 ounces without being
arrested. Doctors would be able to prescribe the drug for only five
patients at a time.