Senate panel looks at revising marijuana laws
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Marijuana Laws
A Senate panel looks at relaxing the marijuana laws in Rhode Island.PROVIDENCE—Lawmakers met at the State House on Wednesday to study relaxing marijuana laws in Rhode Island.
A state Senate commission made up of a nurse, a patient, lawyers and economists discussed a proposal to relax criminal marijuana laws to gain control of the drug.
“If it’s above the table, it’s taxed. If it’s above the table, quality control is much better,“ said Jeff Miron of Harvard University. “If it’s above the table, we don’t have the crime of rival gangs shooting each other over territory and things like that.“
Sen. Leo Blais, R-Coventry, said it doesn’t make sense to keep criminal marijuana laws on the books now that Rhode Island has approved the use of medical marijuana.
Miron said he’s not worried about increased use.
Full legalization would allow a tax stream for Rhode Island
“Everything works much better if it’s a legal industry than if it’s a black-market industry,“ Miron said.
The panel is expected to issue a report early next year.
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Reader Reactions
About time we start to re-examine the antiquated drug laws in this country. The way you deal with criminals is not more guns and bigger jails, putting a big fish in the can makes room on the streets for alot of smaller ones. Less drug laws means less drug related crime, fewer armed dealers marauding the streets. Less money leaving the state. More in state tax coffers. So very many reasons to make this happen. Do it if you want my vote!
ps I can think of an easy 100 people that feel this way, many of whom do NOT SMOKE POT (like myself)
Lawmakers, GROW A PAIR and I do NOT mean pot plants.
It’s about time, Got my vote and many more!
Now that’s making job creation a HIGH priority. Now your ROLLING.
Just don’t stop there.
i agree legalize it i vote yes!
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