Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Law Now Permanent Patients group makes a difference in bill's passage The Rhode Island medical marijuana law was made permanent on June 21, thanks in part to the Rhode Island Campaign for Safe Access (RICSA), a project of the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition that has been supported by ASA grant funds. Rhode Island legislators voted overwhelmingly to override the governor's veto of the bill, with the state Senate voting 29-4 to override and, a day later, the House following suit with a 58-11 vote. The bill the legislature passed last year was due to expire at the end of June because of a "sunset provision" in the law. The strength of support from state lawmakers was a result of the hard work of RIPAC members. Over the past year, RICSA helped to organize the emerging community of patients and caregivers. Holding semi-monthly meetings open to patients and their caregivers, RICSA is working with the "Patient Union" model employed throughout California. In the past three months, RICSA campaign staff helped push the legislation through the Senate and House. Campaign staff worked to secure the support of the Academy for Family Physicians, the Medical Society, the RI State Nurses Association, the ACLU, and AIDS Project RI. Staff also helped secure patient and doctor speakers for health committee hearings and made sure that patient voices were heard in the press. In the past year, RIPAC affiliates have been featured in over 15 news items. One patient, Robert Love from Woonsocket, RI wrote to his local paper, "This program has helped restore my functionality, ending a long-term addiction to prescription painkillers, and has allowed me to participate in life after far too long a hiatus." "We've seen key legislators change their position on medical marijuana in response to testimony from patients," said Jesse Stout, RIPAC's Executive Director. "We consider patients' personal stories to be the most powerful piece of the puzzle." Since beginning as a coalition of health organizations in 2003, RIPAC has made inroads with physician's groups and Rhode Island hospitals, including developing and sponsoring the state's first Continuing Medical Education on medical marijuana. By facilitating dialogue and learning, RIPAC is teaching Rhode Island healthcare providers about the therapeutic applications for marijuana and its constituent components. www.safeaccess.org July 2007 newsletter Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.