WSJ Blogs

Real-time commentary and analysis from The Wall Street Journal
Health Blog
WSJ's blog on health and the business of health.

Rhode Island Joins States Legalizing Sale of Medical Marijuana

marijuana plantA number of states have legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes, which means that patients or their designated caregivers can possess or grow the plant for personal medical use.

Now, a trio of states have given the OK for the sale of medical marijuana from licensed producers.

Yesterday, Rhode Island legislators voted to override a veto by the governor on a bill that allows state-licensed dispensaries to supply patients with marijuana for medical purposes. Earlier this year, New Mexico became the first state to license nonprofit producers of medical marijuana. And California has “compassion centers” where patients with a prescription can buy marijuana legally, although the centers weren’t created by law and aren’t regulated by the state, according to the Providence Journal.

Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri last week had vetoed legislation allowing the state-licensed dispensaries, telling the Providence paper that “the increased availability, along with a complacent attitude, will no doubt result in increased usage, and will negatively impact the children of Rhode Island.”

State representative Thomas Slater disagreed, saying that “sick people should not be forced to associate with drug dealers and the dark underbelly of society to get the help they need,” according to the Journal.

The Obama administration has said it is taking a laissez-faire approach to state medical marijuana laws, meaning that state-licensed dispensaries aren’t likely to face federal prosecution.

“The only obstacle to medical marijuana being provided in an orderly, sensible, well-regulated way has been federal obstructionism,” Bruce Mirken, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, told the Health Blog. “If that federal obstructionism goes away, it will be better for everybody involved –- patients, doctors and the community they live in.”

Marijuana image via Wikimedia Commons

Add a Comment


Comments (5 of 14)

View all Comments »
    • Your state made a great move on the leagelization of medical marijuna I have Hep C and i cant eat without smokeing pot so once a week i am forced to go meet this shady guy in Lynn MA and wait till he shows up and pay him $65 dollars to be able to eat for the week my Hep C casues me to be very nauseous and without a quick few puffs from my pipe before meals I just cant get myself to eat the doctors have tried all types of anti nausa pills and natural cures but they all made me feel even worse the pills messed up my degestive system and was causeing me to be even more nauseous because when up get backed up your body also gets nauseous. I just am happy that a state close to use made the right choice and as far as it becomeing more readily availible thats bull these cultivation shops would put a real strain illeagle weed dealing operations casue believe me i would be at the store with my card rady to buy it before i pay some guys rent I don't know and just add money to the drug cartels other operations. The leagliaztion on Marijuana would really stop these drug cartels lots of money and without money they cant continue to run heroin and cocaine into our country. Thanks again R.I I hope Mass follows in the same direction.

    • Finally some intellect at the legislative level. This is truly an innocuous drug, certainly less problematic on a societal level than alcohol and with minimal medical consequences. This should have been legalized LONG ago. I'm stunned that society allows alcohol to be legal, but not marijuana. We're slowly becoming an intelligent, mature society.

    • well you see i dont understand how there are bars and pubs out there that can sell alcohol to a person who they just watch show up in a car or even worse on a motorcycle then let them drink however much and leave in it .now they are a rolling weapon so to say .now how can marijuana be illegal when it does not impair your motor skills in the least bit .there would be such a dramatic drop in crime and violence i think that the judical system might get sick because of all the money there losing .but they must see the up side where the money might become way more than they where ever making .for example new buisinesses ,new taxes,more jobs ,different kind of night life establishments and so on.i also dont thi k that the government realizes just how many people smoke marijuana and keep it on the down low the see how about everybody.please legalize it and make alcohol illegal and make the world a much happier and safer place foe us all

    • Good for them. All states should follow suit and legalize it for recreational purposes as well.

      Marijuana is far less harmful than other pain medications and far less dangerous than other drugs. Some people enjoy a cocktail after work, some like ice cream, others prefer the no-hang over, no-overdose possibility of marijuana.

      The idea that the government can tell you what to ingest is only about 60 years old. Since they've started banning substances the drug problem has ballooned, as you make criminals out of users and create a lucrative black market for unscrupulous suppliers. There is not a single non-user out there who is clean because they couldn't find drugs, or because they're illegal. It is a personal choice, and to the extent that the choice belongs to your personal space, your body, the government has no right.

      Let's stop outsourcing our god-given ability to THINK. The evils of personal choice and freedom pail in comparison to a bloated system of entitlement, health-nazism and control.

    • the states would gain revenue from the taxation, but lose it from all the arrests and fines, and probation fees that would not be happening anymore. Probably comes down to where they would make the most money. It is very lucrative for state to arrest people.

About WSJ's Health Blog



    • Health Blog on Twitter
    • Health Blog on Facebook

Most Popular