Rhode Island. Who Would Have Guessed It?

[greenbuddha]

 

Rhode Island – A “Laboratory of Democracy?”

by Robert Capecchi

March 4, 2011

 

“It is one of the happy incidents of the federal system that a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.”

 

-

Justice

Louis D. Brandeis

, 1932

 

On Thursday, March 3, Rhode Island State Representatives Edith Ajello, Christopher Blazejewski, Peter Martin, Larry Valencia, and Donna Walsh introduced HB 5591, a bill that would tax and regulate the sale and distribution of marijuana within Rhode Island. This marks the second session in a row that Rep. Ajello has championed a sensible approach to marijuana in the Ocean State.

 

Introduction of this bill also serves to remind us that there are numerous courageous champions of marijuana policy living the eloquent words of Justice Brandeis above. The push to bring to an end to the unjust and destructive marijuana prohibition is, for the most part, coming not from our leadership in Washington, D.C., but from our elected state legislators.

 

State-level politicians are standing up and making the bold and rational choice to advocate for a “novel social and economic experiment” — ending marijuana prohibition and replacing it with a system of taxed and regulated marijuana distribution similar to the current legal system regulating alcohol, a much more damaging substance than marijuana. Assemblymember Tom Ammiano in California, Representative Mary Lou Dickerson in Washington, Representative Ellen Story in Massachusetts, and many of their colleagues have taken on the failed status quo and are leading the charge for sensible change.

 

Hear this, change will come. It may be via the ballot or by legislative proposal, but it will come. Support for legalizing marijuana is, and continues to be, on the rise. Sometime soon, some state (Colorado? Washington? California? Rhode Island?) will stand up and say enough is enough. How the federal government will respond is anyone’s guess. But one thing is clear: Several states led the way to repealing alcohol prohibition by refusing to participate in it, and states taking a sensible approach to marijuana will also lead the way to ending marijuana prohibition.

 

[Croppled1]

Its good to see discussion like this and pretty much that is all its been the last few years . Nothing usually comes from it . Barney Frank had great Federal Legislation that would of helped the whole country reintroduce medicinal use in HR 2835 . I read the link for Rhode Islands bill and some problems that came to mind are : there is a registry - why if legal as long as you meet the limits of a individual ? I can understand registering a commercial wholesaler and grows but users never . We have seen this in history within other countries whose attitudes then went more conservative with everyone then rounded up and jailed or worse in some third world situations . The main flaws for workable Cannabis legalization always seems to center on reasonable protections for employment and/or driving privileges .

 

The environment is so toxic now to-wards Cannabis users medicinal or otherwise as change is resisted harshly by those opposed to Cannabis use . The Federal District Court decision upholding the concept of a employers right to never allow any person that EVER had a positive pre-employment drug test for life from hiring last week is one example . Especially in the subject case where the employer was a Union representing a oligopic industry effectively pushing this person out of their trade .

 

In other over reaction to change Pa . and other States recently quickly passed a 5 nanogram limit for testing as proof of DUID ( impairment ) which is basically the same as zero tolerance other then their is a test and a limit .

 

I hope as we all fight for change we are cautious and aware of these very important issues within legislation . Really if you have no right to move within society in a affordable manner or work even if the activity is otherwise legal - are people free to participate ?

 

There were quite a bit of good things in the law like being able to grow your own and the ability to have non re numerated exchanges between individuals . This will put a big dent in illegal market profits reducing money going into the wrong pockets and associated street crime .

[greenbuddha]

 

Croppled,

Thanks very much. Information and ideas are the ONLY way to get done what we as a community are trying to do.

Unless these issues are brought up, thought over and then dicussed 'and USED' we end up with legislation and laws that are most often NOT in our best interest.

But I believe 'now' is the time to discuss these issue so that we as a state AND a nation can use whatever momentum we have to come up with the best ideas and laws that we possibly can.

If left soley to those that are anti-MMJ / cannabis we will have more of the harsh and life ruining laws that we have dealt with for over five decades now.

 

NOTHING is EVER perfect but we can surely make it better.

 

Again, thanks very much for your information and thoughts.

 

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Its good to see discussion like this and pretty much that is all its been the last few years . Nothing usually comes from it . Barney Frank had great Federal Legislation that would of helped the whole country reintroduce medicinal use in HR 2835 . I read the link for Rhode Islands bill and some problems that came to mind are : there is a registry - why if legal as long as you meet the limits of a individual ? I can understand registering a commercial wholesaler and grows but users never . We have seen this in history within other countries whose attitudes then went more conservative with everyone then rounded up and jailed or worse in some third world situations . The main flaws for workable Cannabis legalization always seems to center on reasonable protections for employment and/or driving privileges .

 

The environment is so toxic now to-wards Cannabis users medicinal or otherwise as change is resisted harshly by those opposed to Cannabis use . The Federal District Court decision upholding the concept of a employers right to never allow any person that EVER had a positive pre-employment drug test for life from hiring last week is one example . Especially in the subject case where the employer was a Union representing a oligopic industry effectively pushing this person out of their trade .

 

In other over reaction to change Pa . and other States recently quickly passed a 5 nanogram limit for testing as proof of DUID ( impairment ) which is basically the same as zero tolerance other then their is a test and a limit .

 

I hope as we all fight for change we are cautious and aware of these very important issues within legislation . Really if you have no right to move within society in a affordable manner or work even if the activity is otherwise legal - are people free to participate ?

 

There were quite a bit of good things in the law like being able to grow your own and the ability to have non re numerated exchanges between individuals . This will put a big dent in illegal market profits reducing money going into the wrong pockets and associated street crime .