Indopedia All Things Marijuana
The Rhode Island Senate just approved a bill to create a 19-member joint legislative commission to study the ramifications of legalizing recreational marijuana in the state. The commission is required to report its findings to the General Assembly on or before March 1st of 2018, and the commission will subsequently be disbanded on July 1st, 2018. Although this does mean that state legislators are seriously considering legalization, it also means that legalization is almost certainly off the table for 2017.
“Based on my experience as a retired State Police lieutenant and a mom of four children, I understand that legalization of marijuana for recreational use could have serious public safety, public health and societal ramifications,” said state Sen. Cynthia Coyne, sponsor of the bill. “It is imperative that we thoughtfully consider the unintended consequences and take notice from lessons learned in Colorado and Washington. We should take full advantage of other states’ experiences and learn about whether we should follow in their footsteps or perhaps take a different approach to avoid any problems they may have encountered.”
“The purpose of said Commission…
