LAWMAKERS HEAR IMPASSIONED PLEA TO EXTEND MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

Nearly two-dozen people crowded into a small and stuffy hearing room
at the Rhode Island State House last Wednesday. Some came in
wheelchairs, while others used white canes to guide them.

They came to ask lawmakers to make Rhode Island's medical marijuana
law permanent. Right now, the law is set to expire on June 30, 2007.
On that date, nearly 250 patients licensed by the state health
department will lose their legal privilege to use pot to help them
manage the pain of serious diseases, including cancer, AIDS, MS and
glaucoma.

Rhonda O'Donnell, a registered nurse from Warwick, was among the first
to be licensed to use medical marijuana. More than 10 years ago, she
was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a painful, debilitating nerve
disease that now keeps her in a wheelchair. Until she tried marijuana,
there was no peace from the burning pain in her legs.

"It took only two puffs before I felt improvement in my legs,"
O'Donnell told the Senate Health and Human Services committee. "I do
use it several times a day to combat the pain."

O'Donnell testified that she got her pot by networking.

"I think everyone has been surprised how well this has worked. I
encourage people to go to an AIDS or cancer support group. Chances are
you'll find someone [who can supply you] just by word of mouth," she
said.

O'Donnell used her arms to prop herself up on a wooden podium to speak
to the lawmakers. Minutes later, obviously tired, she sat down in her
wheelchair.

Another Warwick resident, Robert Ebert, testified that marijuana has
helped tremendously with his pain but getting the drug proved
dangerous for him. Ebert was assaulted and robbed when he tried to buy
pot from a street dealer.

"We sympathize with the victims but we can't condone a bill which
allows for something to be bought illegally," State Police Lt. Leroy
Rose Jr. told lawmakers. "Of course, we're concerned about where
people go to buy the marijuana and being assaulted."

The reforms under consideration would eliminate the June 30 sunset
clause, loosen the restrictions on who can be designated a patient's
primary caregiver and increase (to 24) the number of marijuana plants
a caregiver can possess. A caregiver would be limited to carry just
five ounces of usable marijuana at any one time.

Several doctors waited in line behind patients to testify in favor of
the continued compassionate use of marijuana.

The co-founder of the advocacy group Americans for a Drug Free Youth,
Steven Steiner argued that legalizing marijuana sends the wrong
message to kids. As an example, Steiner related information about a
Web site on MySpace.com where a man bills himself as a farmer who
grows the best weed in Rhode Island. The man, identified only as
Steve, also claims he is a master grower of medical marijuana and
licensed by the State of Rhode Island.

The committee took no action on the bill.