C
CANNATOPIA
On Monday May 2, Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee suspended the state's planned medical marijuana dispensary program after the federal government threatened to criminally and/or civilly prosecute any individuals associated with the state’s three approved medi-pot dispensaries, including the landlords renting the facilities for the cannabis providers.
Gov. Chafee said Rhode Island would indefinitely delay issuing the final permits to the trio of organizations chosen by state officials in mid-March to supply medicinal cannabis. In the interim, Chafee said he would speak with the governors of other medical marijuana states that have received similar threats.
Chafee’s decision came after U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha sent a letter of warning on April 29 stating that it is U.S. Dept of Justice policy to prosecute significant cultivators of cannabis. According to Chafee, “Friday’s letter makes it clear that DOJ (Department of Justice) will now pursue certain commercial cultivation and distribution of medical marijuana, even if such cultivation and distribution is permitted by state law.” Also receiving the threatening letters were all of the potential proprietors of the pending dispensaries, which had been scheduled to be in operation by this summer.
While some may question the timing of U.S. Attorney Neronha’s warning, Neronha stated, “I don’t think it’s any mystery that growing marijuana on a large scale violates federal law. These are large-scale industrial grows designed to generate enormous grows and enormous profits … That’s just not something that the United States can ignore, and I don’t intend to ignore it.”
The dispensary suspension is disappointing as such a system would greatly enhance the state’s current medical marijuana program, in which patients can grow up to 12 mature plants and possess up to 2.5 ounces of medicine, while caregivers can cultivate only up to two dozen plants and possess up to five ounces of marijuana.
The Rhode Island legislature passed the state’s Medical Marijuana Act in 2006 and then authorized the sale of medical marijuana in 2009, paving the way for the formation of the dispensaries that now sit empty, waiting to be filled with plants and patients. Until then, the sick in Rhode Island will continue to have to grow their own.
More @ projo.com, boston.com & sos.ri.gov
link -http://hightimes.com/news/mmiller/7084
Gov. Chafee said Rhode Island would indefinitely delay issuing the final permits to the trio of organizations chosen by state officials in mid-March to supply medicinal cannabis. In the interim, Chafee said he would speak with the governors of other medical marijuana states that have received similar threats.
Chafee’s decision came after U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha sent a letter of warning on April 29 stating that it is U.S. Dept of Justice policy to prosecute significant cultivators of cannabis. According to Chafee, “Friday’s letter makes it clear that DOJ (Department of Justice) will now pursue certain commercial cultivation and distribution of medical marijuana, even if such cultivation and distribution is permitted by state law.” Also receiving the threatening letters were all of the potential proprietors of the pending dispensaries, which had been scheduled to be in operation by this summer.
While some may question the timing of U.S. Attorney Neronha’s warning, Neronha stated, “I don’t think it’s any mystery that growing marijuana on a large scale violates federal law. These are large-scale industrial grows designed to generate enormous grows and enormous profits … That’s just not something that the United States can ignore, and I don’t intend to ignore it.”
The dispensary suspension is disappointing as such a system would greatly enhance the state’s current medical marijuana program, in which patients can grow up to 12 mature plants and possess up to 2.5 ounces of medicine, while caregivers can cultivate only up to two dozen plants and possess up to five ounces of marijuana.
The Rhode Island legislature passed the state’s Medical Marijuana Act in 2006 and then authorized the sale of medical marijuana in 2009, paving the way for the formation of the dispensaries that now sit empty, waiting to be filled with plants and patients. Until then, the sick in Rhode Island will continue to have to grow their own.
More @ projo.com, boston.com & sos.ri.gov
link -http://hightimes.com/news/mmiller/7084
