Senate committee to take up medical marijuana legislation
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A Senate committee is expected to vote this afternoon on a bill that would expand the state’s medical marijuana program.
The bill would allow nonprofit businesses to sell marijuana to seriously ill patients.
The state now allows patients with chronic illnesses to possess and use marijuana for pain relief. But the law does not spell out how those patients can buy the drug, which remains illegal under federal law.
The legislation would also permit so-called “compassion centers” to sell up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana to a qualified patient or caregiver every 15 days.
All medical marijuana patients should be allowed to use cannabis as medicine. At least 2 ounces per week.