PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) � A House panel is set to hear several marijuana bills, including one that would legalize its use and regulate and tax it like alcohol.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) � A House panel is set to hear several marijuana bills, including one that would legalize its use and regulate and tax it like alcohol.

The Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday.

Rep. Edith Ajello�s bill would allow people 21 and older to have up to one ounce of marijuana and grow limited amounts of the plant. It would set up a system to regulate licensed marijuana retail stores and cultivation and testing facilities and would subject the drug to wholesale and retail taxes.

Ajello and other supporters of the legislation are planning a news conference ahead of the hearing.

Another pending bill reduces the number of allowable plants in cultivation by medical marijuana cardholders and requires national criminal background checks for all �caregiver� applicants.

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