SENATE PANEL OKS MEDICAL MARIJUANA, FIREARM LEGISLATION

PROVIDENCE -- Bills to allow seriously ill patients to use marijuana
medically and to take guns away from domestic abusers who are the subject
of restraining orders both easily passed the Senate Judiciary Committee
yesterday.

The so-called "Homicide Prevention Act" was voted out of committee
unanimously and the medical marijuana bill was sent to the Senate floor on
a 9-2 vote.

Under the medical marijuana bill, sponsored by Sen. Rhoda Perry, patients
with chronic or debilitating diseases like cancer, glaucoma, AIDS and
multiple sclerosis and two primary caregivers would be allowed to have 2.5
ounces of useable marijuana or 12 marijuana plants without the risk of
arrest or prosecution. The patient must be diagnosed by a licensed
physician as having a debilitating medical condition.

The issue has prompted intense, passionate and often very personal
testimony before committees of the House and Senate and supporters say that
with 50 co-sponsors of the bill in the 75-member House of Representatives,
the bill this year has a better chance of passage than it has in several
previous tries.

The Senate committee made five changes to Perry's bill Thursday, changes
Perry said will probably be reflected in a similar House bill sponsored by
Rep. Thomas Slater that is currently before the House Health, Education and
Welfare Committee.

Among the changes to the bill is one that would increase the minimum age of
a primary caregiver - someone who has agreed to assist with the patient's
marijuana use.

Also, the Department of Health would have 30 days, increased from 20 in the
original bill, to issue a registry identification card after a patient
submits an application.

The applications and other information provided by patients to obtain the
registry cards are considered confidential.

Certain non-profit organizations that take care of sick and dying people -
such as Cumberland's House of Compassion or Providence's Sunrise House -
could be certified as caregivers under a new amendment.

Sen. Michael Damiani of East Providence objected to a provision that would
subject local and state police to suspension or firing if he or she
"knowingly cooperates with federal law enforcement agents to arrest,
investigate, prosecute or search a registered patient or caregiver"

"Are we trying to fire cops?" Damiani demanded.

That language was stricken from the legislation after Senate Majority
Leader Teresa Paiva Weed said, "it is not a critical part of the bill."

Damiani had other concerns as well.

"Have we determined where the marijuana is going to come from?" he asked.

"The seeds or product will be obtained from a source that is not legal,"
Perry conceded.

Damiani voted in favor of the bill despite saying he had qualms about
"enhancing the business operation of the neighborhood drug dealer."

Sens. Leonidas Raptakis, a Democrat, and Leo Blais, a Republican, both of
Coventry, voted against passage.

The bill allow judges to order that persons against whom restraining orders
are issued surrender their firearms won its first victory of the year in
Senate Judiciary, the committee where it suffered a sudden and unexpected
death on the last day of the General Assembly session last year.

It passed on a unanimous voice vote.

"Last year, there was a lack of dialogue regarding this bill," said
Damiani, one of the senators who voted to defeat the measure last year.

"This year there was a complete dialogue and a piece of legislation that
was flawed became a piece of legislation that all parties can live with.
I'm happy with this piece of legislation."

"It's a great day!" exulted Sen. Maryellen Goodwin, prime sponsorof the
Senate bill.

Referring to the unanimous vote with which the bill passed the committee,
Goodwin said she expects "almost the same result" on the Senate floor.

The House could be another matter, however, but Goodwin said she remains
cautiously optimistic that a companion bill, sponsored by Pawtucket Rep.
Elaine Coderre and currently before the House Health, Education and Welfare
Committee, will fare as well.

"Today's vote sends a strong message to victims that their lives do,
indeed, matter." Said Zulma Garcia, policy director of the Rhode Island
Coalition Against Domestic Violence. "This legislation will save lives."