R.I. IS CLOSE TO A VOTE TO OK MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Carcieri Plans Veto, But Votes May Be There To Override It

Rhode Island is poised to become the 11th state in the nation to permit the
use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, with the divisive proposal
expected to win final passage today and reach the governor's desk Wednesday.

Governor Donald L. Carcieri has said he will probably veto the bill, but
supporters say they have the votes needed to override his veto.

The legislation comes at a critical juncture in the battle over the issue.
Three weeks ago, the Supreme Court ruled that medicinal marijuana users can
be prosecuted under federal law even if their home states allow use of the
drug. Last week, federal drug agents raided more than 20 medicinal
marijuana dispensaries in California and charged two people.

In Rhode Island, the legislative fight has been propelled by deeply
personal stories. The bill is named for state Senator Rhoda Perry's nephew,
who died last year from complications of AIDS and lymphoma and whose
doctors had recommended marijuana to ease his nausea. On the House side,
the bill's sponsor is Representative Thomas Slater, who has undergone
treatment for both lung and prostate cancer.

"Would I really take marijuana? I don't know," said Slater, who is 64 and
said three of his six siblings had also battled cancer. "I just want the
option out there for people. If they feel it would help them and a doctor
feels it would help them, then I want them to have the option to use it
without fear of state prosecution."

Slater and other supporters say their legislation is limited enough to
prevent abuse of marijuana.

The bill would exempt from arrest only patients -- along with their
doctors, pharmacists, and caregivers -- whose doctors certified to the
state Department of Health that the patient had pain from a "chronic or
debilitating" medical condition, such as cancer or AIDS, that might be
eased by marijuana. Such patients would be given state registration cards
that would allow them and their caregivers to possess up to 12 plants or
2.5 ounces of "usable marijuana" at any time.

The law would apply only to Rhode Island residents. Moreover, users would
be required to store the drug indoors; there will be no dispensaries. That,
backers say, is a key difference from California that should make it easier
to keep track of marijuana users.

"There won't even be the opportunity to grow large amounts, because it will
have to be grown indoors, not outside," Perry said. "We're also not San
Francisco. We don't have huge numbers of people and dispensaries."

Passage of the law in Rhode Island would leave New England evenly divided
over the issue of medicinal marijuana. Vermont and Maine permit its use.