The new law will take effect immediately. Legislators voted in favor of the measure by wide margins on several votes today (vetoes of both House and Senate bills had to be overcome in each chamber): 67-0 and 64-0 in two votes in the House, and 35-3 in both House votes.

This marks yet another victory for marijuana reformers in 2009, a year that has seen major advancements toward the inclusion of marijuana reform in the mainstream political lexicon. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger suggested a public debate on marijuana legalization in May, after the state's budget crisis and the Mexican drug war added some rationales to reform efforts.

A Field poll showed 56 percent of Californians in support of outright legalization.

President Obama, who had pledged to back off federal raids on medical marijuana users and sellers, took office, and with him new drug czar Gil Kerlikowske, who doesn't support legalization but oversaw the implementation of a decriminalization program as Seattle's chief of police.

The new administration is viewed in the marijuana reform community as much easier to work with than the previous one, and as having a much friendlier approach to reformers' goals.

Rhode Island's action "is of actual significance because it is the first state to take an existing medical marijuana law and add state licensed dispensaries to it," Mariuana Policy Project Communications Director Bruce Mirken said.

"This is a direct result from a more enlightened policy from the administration," Mirken said, citing Attorney General Eric Holder's cessation of medical marijuana raids.

Source: Atlantic Monthly, The (US)

Author: Chris Good

Published: June 16, 2009

Copyright: 2009 by The Atlantic Monthly Company

Contact: letters@theatlantic.com

Website: http://www.theatlantic.com/

URL: http://drugsense.org/url/wRBdKPMz

Related Articles:

Carcieri Vetoes Bill Allowing MMJ Dispensaries

http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24867.shtml

Assembly, In Veto-Proof Votes, OKs Dispensaries

http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24862.shtml