2012 -- S 2783

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LC02008

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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A N A C T

RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS - THE EDWARD O. HAWKINS AND THOMAS C.

SLATER MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT

     Introduced By: Senators Perry, DeVall, Nesselbush, Metts, and Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: March 15, 2012

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 21-28.6-3, 21-28.6-4, 21-28.6-5, 21-28.6-6, 21-28.6-7, 21-28.6-8

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and 21-28.6-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 21-28.6 entitled "The Edward O. Hawkins and

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Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     21-28.6-3. Definitions. -- For the purposes of this chapter:

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     (1) "Cardholder" means a qualifying patient, or a primary caregiver, or a principal officer,

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board member, employee, volunteer, or agent of a compassion center who has registered with the

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department and has been issued and possesses a valid registry identification card.

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     (2)(i) "Compassion center" means a not-for-profit entity registered under section 21-28.6-

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12 that acquires, possesses, cultivates, manufactures, delivers, transfers, transports, supplies or

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dispenses marijuana, or related supplies and educational materials, to registered qualifying

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patients and their registered primary caregivers who have designated it as one of their primary

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caregivers.

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     (ii) “Compassion center cardholder” means a principal officer, board member, employee,

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volunteer, or agent of a compassion center who has registered with the department and has been

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issued and possesses a valid registry identification card.

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     (3) "Debilitating medical condition" means:

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     (i) Cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus, acquired

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immune deficiency syndrome, Hepatitis C, or the treatment of these conditions;

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     (ii) A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces

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one or more of the following: cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe, debilitating, chronic pain;

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severe nausea; seizures, including but not limited to, those characteristic of epilepsy; or severe

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and persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to, those characteristic of multiple

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sclerosis or Crohn's disease; or agitation of Alzheimer's Disease; or

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     (iii) Any other medical condition or its treatment approved by the department, as

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provided for in section 21-28.6-5.

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     (4) "Department" means the Rhode Island department of health or its successor agency.

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     (5) "Marijuana" has the meaning given that term in section 21-28-1.02(26).

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     (6) "Mature marijuana plant" means a marijuana plant which has flowers or buds that are

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readily observable by an unaided visual examination.

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     (7) "Medical use" means the acquisition, possession, cultivation, manufacture, use,

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delivery, transfer, or transportation of marijuana or paraphernalia relating to the consumption of

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marijuana to alleviate a registered qualifying patient's patient cardholder’s debilitating medical

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condition or symptoms associated with the medical condition.

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     (8) "Practitioner" means a person who is licensed with authority to prescribe drugs

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pursuant to chapter 37 of title 5 or a physician licensed with authority to prescribe drugs in

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Massachusetts or Connecticut.

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     (9) "Primary caregiver" means either a natural person who is at least twenty-one (21)

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years old or a compassion center. Unless the primary caregiver is a compassion center, a natural

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primary caregiver may assist no more than five (5) qualifying patients with their medical use of

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marijuana.

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     (10) "Qualifying patient" means a person who has been diagnosed by a practitioner as

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having a debilitating medical condition and is a resident of Rhode Island.

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     (11) "Registry identification card" means a document issued by the department that

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identifies a person as a registered qualifying patient, a registered primary caregiver, or a

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registered principal officer, board member, employee, volunteer, or agent of a compassion center.

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     (12) "Unusable marijuana" means marijuana seeds, stalks, seedlings, and unusable roots.

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"Seedling" means a marijuana plant with no observable flowers or buds.

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     (13) "Usable marijuana" means the dried leaves and flowers of the marijuana plant, and

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any mixture or preparation thereof, but does not include the seeds, stalks, and roots of the plant.

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     (14) "Written certification" means the qualifying patient's medical records, and a

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statement signed by a practitioner, stating that in the practitioner's professional opinion the

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potential benefits of the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the health risks for the

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qualifying patient. A written certification shall be made only in the course of a bona fide

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practitioner-patient relationship after the practitioner has completed a full assessment of the

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qualifying patient's medical history. The written certification shall specify the qualifying patient's

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debilitating medical condition or conditions.

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     21-28.6-4. Protections for the medical use of marijuana. -- (a) A qualifying patient

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cardholder who has in his or her possession a registry identification card shall not be subject to

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arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner, or denied any right or privilege, including but not

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limited to, civil penalty or disciplinary action by a business or occupational or professional

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licensing board or bureau, for the medical use of marijuana; provided, that the qualifying patient

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possesses an amount of marijuana that does not exceed twelve (12) mature marijuana plants and

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two and one-half (2.5) ounces of usable marijuana. Said plants shall be stored in an indoor

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facility.:

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     (1) A patient cardholder possesses an amount of marijuana that does not exceed twelve

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(12) mature marijuana plants and two and one-half (2.5) ounces of usable marijuana;

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     (2) A primary caregiver cardholder possesses an amount of marijuana which does not

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exceed twelve (12) mature marijuana plants and two and one-half (2.5) ounces of usable

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marijuana for each qualifying patient to whom he or she is connected through the department's

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registration process. However, no primary caregiver cardholder, other than a compassion center,

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shall possess an amount of marijuana in excess of twenty-four (24) marijuana plants and five (5)

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ounces of usable marijuana for qualifying patients to whom he or she is connected through the

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department's registration process;

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     (3) All mature marijuana plants possessed are stored in an indoor facility;

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     (4) No more than two (2) cardholders shall possess, cultivate or manufacture marijuana in

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the same residence; and

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     (5) No more than two (2) cardholders may participate in the cooperative possession,

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cultivation or manufacture of marijuana in the same non-residence location. All non-cohabitating

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cardholders who participate in the cooperative possession, cultivation or manufacture of

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marijuana in the same non-residence location shall register that location with the department.

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The registered location shall be subject to inspection by the department.

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     (b) No school, employer or landlord may refuse to enroll, employ or lease to or otherwise

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penalize a person solely for his or her status as a cardholder.

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     (c) A primary caregiver, who has in his or her possession, a registry identification card

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shall not be subject to arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner, or denied any right or

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privilege, including but not limited to, civil penalty or disciplinary action by a business or

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occupational or professional licensing board or bureau, for assisting a qualifying patient to whom

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he or she is connected through the department's registration process with the medical use of

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marijuana; provided, that the primary caregiver possesses an amount of marijuana which does not

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exceed twelve (12) mature marijuana plants and two and one-half (2.5) ounces of usable

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marijuana for each qualifying patient to whom he or she is connected through the department's

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registration process.

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     (d) Registered primary caregivers and registered qualifying patients A cardholder shall be

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allowed to possess a reasonable amount of unusable marijuana, including up to twelve (12)

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seedlings, which shall not be counted toward the limits in this section.

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     (e) There shall exist a presumption that a qualifying patient or primary caregiver is

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engaged in the medical use of marijuana if the qualifying patient or primary caregiver:

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     (1) Is in possession of a registry identification card; and

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     (2) Is in possession of an amount of marijuana that does not exceed the amount permitted

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under this chapter. Such presumption may be rebutted by evidence that conduct related to

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marijuana was not for the purpose of alleviating the qualifying patient's debilitating medical

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condition or symptoms associated with the medical condition.

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     (f) A primary caregiver cardholder may receive reimbursement for costs associated with

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assisting a registered qualifying patient's patient cardholder’s medical use of marijuana.

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Compensation shall not constitute sale of controlled substances.

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     (g) A practitioner shall not be subject to arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner, or

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denied any right or privilege, including, but not limited to, civil penalty or disciplinary action by

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the Rhode Island Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline or by any another business or

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occupational or professional licensing board or bureau solely for providing written certifications

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or for otherwise stating that, in the practitioner's professional opinion, the potential benefits of the

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medical marijuana would likely outweigh the health risks for a patient.

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     (h) Any interest in or right to property that is possessed, owned, or used in connection

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with the medical use of marijuana, or acts incidental to such use, shall not be forfeited.

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     (i) No person shall be subject to arrest or prosecution for constructive possession,

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conspiracy, aiding and abetting, being an accessory, or any other offense for simply being in the

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presence or vicinity of the medical use of marijuana as permitted under this chapter or for

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assisting a registered qualifying patient with using or administering marijuana.

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     (j) A practitioner nurse or pharmacist shall not be subject to arrest, prosecution or penalty

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in any manner, or denied any right or privilege, including, but not limited to, civil penalty or

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disciplinary action by a business or occupational or professional licensing board or bureau solely

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for discussing the benefits or health risks of medical marijuana or its interaction with other

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substances with a patient.

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     (k) A registry identification card, or its equivalent, issued under the laws of another state,

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U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia to permit the medical use of marijuana by a patient with

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a debilitating medical condition, or to permit a person to assist with the medical use of marijuana

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by a patient with a debilitating medical condition, shall have the same force and effect as a

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registry identification card issued by the department.

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     (l) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 21-28.6-3(6) or subsection 21-28.6-4(c),

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no primary caregiver other than a compassion center shall possess an amount of marijuana in

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excess of twenty-four (24) marijuana plants and five (5) ounces of usable marijuana for

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qualifying patients to whom he or she is connected through the department's registration process.

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     (m) A registered qualifying patient or registered primary caregiver cardholder may give

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marijuana to another registered qualifying patient or registered primary caregiver cardholder to

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whom they are not connected by the department's registration process, provided that no

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consideration is paid for the marijuana, and that the recipient does not exceed the limits specified

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in section 21-28.6-4.

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     (n) For the purposes of medical care, including organ transplants, a registered qualifying

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patient's patient cardholder’s authorized use of marijuana shall be considered the equivalent of the

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authorized use of any other medication used at the direction of a physician, and shall not

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constitute the use of an illicit substance.

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     21-28.6-5. Department to issue regulations. -- (a) Not later than ninety (90) days after

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the effective date of this chapter, the department shall promulgate regulations governing the

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manner in which it shall consider petitions from the public to add debilitating medical conditions

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to those included in this chapter. In considering such petitions, the department shall include

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public notice of, and an opportunity to comment in a public hearing, upon such petitions. The

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department shall, after hearing, approve or deny such petitions within one hundred eighty (180)

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days of submission. The approval or denial of such a petition shall be considered a final

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department action, subject to judicial review. Jurisdiction and venue for judicial review are vested

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in the superior court. The denial of a petition shall not disqualify qualifying patients with that

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condition, if they have a debilitating medical condition. The denial of a petition shall not prevent

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a person with the denied condition from raising an affirmative defense.

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     (b) Not later than ninety (90) days after the effective date of this chapter, the department

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shall promulgate regulations governing the manner in which it shall consider applications for and

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renewals of registry identification cards for qualifying patients and primary caregivers. The

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department's regulations shall establish application and renewal fees that generate revenues

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sufficient to offset all expenses of implementing and administering this chapter. The department

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may vary the application and renewal fees along a sliding scale that accounts for a qualifying

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patient's or primary caregiver's income. The department may accept donations from private

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sources in order to reduce the application and renewal fees.

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     21-28.6-6. Administration of regulations. -- (a) The department shall issue registry

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identification cards to qualifying patients who submit the following, in accordance with the

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department's regulations:

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     (1) Written certification as defined in section 21-28.6-3(14) of this chapter;

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     (2) Application or renewal fee;

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     (3) Name, address, and date of birth of the qualifying patient; provided, however, that if

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the patient is homeless, no address is required;

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     (4) Name, address, and telephone number of the qualifying patient's practitioner; and

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     (5) Name, address, and date of birth of each primary caregiver of the qualifying patient, if

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any.; and

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     (6) Proof of Rhode Island residency for no less than six (6) months of a one year period.

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     (b) The department shall not issue a registry identification card to a qualifying patient

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under the age of eighteen (18) unless:

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     (1) The qualifying patient's practitioner has explained the potential risks and benefits of

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the medical use of marijuana to the qualifying patient and to a parent, guardian or person having

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legal custody of the qualifying patient; and

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     (2) A parent, guardian or person having legal custody consents in writing to:

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     (i) Allow the qualifying patient's medical use of marijuana;

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     (ii) Serve as one of the qualifying patient's primary caregivers; and

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     (iii) Control the acquisition of the marijuana, the dosage, and the frequency of the

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medical use of marijuana by the qualifying patient.

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     (c) The department shall verify the information contained in an application or renewal

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submitted pursuant to this section, and shall approve or deny an application or renewal within

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fifteen (15) days of receiving it. The department may deny an application or renewal only if the

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applicant did not provide the information required pursuant to this section, or if the department

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determines that the information provided was falsified. Rejection of an application or renewal is

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considered a final department action, subject to judicial review. Jurisdiction and venue for

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judicial review are vested in the superior court.

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     (d) The department shall may issue a registry identification card to each primary

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caregiver, if any, who is named in a qualifying patient's approved application, up to a maximum

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of two (2) primary caregivers per qualifying patient. A person may not serve as a primary

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caregiver if he or she has a felony drug conviction, unless the department waives this restriction

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in respect to a specific individual at the department's discretion. Additionally, the department

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shall allow the person to serve as a primary caregiver if the department determines that the

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offense was for conduct that occurred prior to the enactment of the Edward O. Hawkins and

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Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act or that was prosecuted by an authority other than the

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state of Rhode Island and for which the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical

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Marijuana Act would otherwise have prevented a conviction.

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     (1) The primary caregiver applicant shall apply to the bureau of criminal identification of

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the department of attorney general, state police or local police department for a national criminal

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records check that shall include fingerprints submitted to the FBI. Upon the discovery of any

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disqualifying information as defined in subdivision 21-28.6-6(d)(4), and in accordance with the

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rules promulgated by the director, the bureau of criminal identification of the department of

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attorney general, state police or the local police department shall inform the applicant, in writing,

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of the nature of the disqualifying information; and, without disclosing the nature of the

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disqualifying information, shall notify the department, in writing, that disqualifying information

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has been discovered.

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     (2) In those situations in which no disqualifying information has been found, the bureau

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of criminal identification of the department of attorney general, state police or the local police

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shall inform the applicant and the department, in writing, of this fact.

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     (3) The department shall maintain on file evidence that criminal records checks have

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been initiated on all applicants seeking a primary caregiver registry identification card and the

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results of the checks.

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     (4) Information produced by a criminal records review pertaining to a conviction for any

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felony offense under chapter 21-28 ("Rhode Island Controlled Substances Act") or a similar

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offense from any other jurisdiction shall result in a letter to the applicant and the department

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disqualifying the applicant.

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     (5) The primary caregiver applicant shall be responsible for any expense associated with

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the national criminal records check.

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     (6) For purposes of this section "conviction" means, in addition to judgments of

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conviction entered by a court subsequent to a finding of guilty or a plea of guilty, those instances

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where the defendant has entered a plea of nolo contendere and has received a sentence of

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probation and those instances where a defendant has entered into a deferred sentence agreement

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with the attorney general.

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     (e) The department shall issue registry identification cards within five (5) days of

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approving an application or renewal, which shall expire two (2) years after the date of issuance.

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Registry identification cards shall contain:

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     (1) The date of issuance and expiration date of the registry identification card;

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     (2) A random registry identification number; and

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     (3) A photograph; and

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     (4) Any additional information as required by regulation or the department. ; and

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     (5) The name of the cardholder.

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     (f) Persons issued registry identification cards shall be subject to the following:

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     (1) A qualifying patient who has been issued a registry identification card patient

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cardholder shall notify the department of any change in the qualifying patient's name, address, or

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primary caregiver; or if the qualifying patient he or she ceases to have his or her debilitating

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medical condition, within ten (10) days of such change.

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     (2) A registered qualifying patient cardholder who fails to notify the department of any of

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these changes is responsible for a civil infraction, punishable by a fine of no more than one

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hundred fifty dollars ($150). If the person patient cardholder has ceased to suffer from a

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debilitating medical condition, the card shall be deemed null and void and the person shall be

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liable for any other penalties that may apply to the person's nonmedical use of marijuana.

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     (3) A registered primary caregiver, principal officer, board member, employee,

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volunteer, or agent of a compassion center caregiver cardholder or a compassion center

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cardholder shall notify the department of any change in his or her name or address within ten (10)

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days of such change. A primary caregiver, principal officer, board member, employee, volunteer,

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or agent of a compassion center caregiver cardholder or a compassion center cardholder who fails

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to notify the department of any of these changes is responsible for a civil infraction, punishable

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by a fine of no more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150).

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     (4) When a qualifying patient cardholder or primary caregiver cardholder notifies the

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department of any changes listed in this subsection, the department shall issue the registered

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qualifying patient cardholder and each primary caregiver cardholder a new registry identification

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card within ten (10) days of receiving the updated information and a ten dollar ($10.00) fee.

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When a principal officer, board member, employee, volunteer, or agent of a compassion center

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cardholder notifies the department of any changes listed in this subsection, the department shall

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issue the cardholder a new registry identification card within ten (10) days of receiving the

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updated information and a ten dollar ($10.00) fee.

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     (5) When a qualifying patient who possesses a registry identification card patient

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cardholder changes his or her primary caregiver, the department shall notify the primary caregiver

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within ten (10) days. The primary caregiver's protections as provided in this chapter as to that

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patient shall expire ten (10) days after notification by the department.

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     (6) If a cardholder loses his or her registry identification card, he or she shall notify the

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department and submit a ten dollar ($10.00) fee within ten (10) days of losing the card. Within

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five (5) days, the department shall issue a new registry identification card with new random

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identification number.

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     (7) If a cardholder willfully violates any provision of this chapter as determined by the

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department, his or her registry identification card may be revoked.

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     (g) Possession of, or application for, a registry identification card shall not constitute

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probable cause or reasonable suspicion, nor shall it be used to support the search of the person or

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property of the person possessing or applying for the registry identification card, or otherwise

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subject the person or property of the person to inspection by any governmental agency.

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     (h) (1) Applications and supporting information submitted by qualifying patients,

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including information regarding their primary caregivers and practitioners, are confidential and

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protected under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, and shall

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be exempt from the provisions of the RIGL chapter 38-2 et seq. the Rhode Island access to public

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records act and not subject to disclosure, except to authorized employees of the department as

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necessary to perform official duties of the department..

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     (2) The department shall maintain a confidential list of the persons to whom the

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department has issued registry identification cards. Individual names and other identifying

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information on the list shall be confidential, exempt from the provisions of Rhode Island Access

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to Public Information, chapter 2 of title 38, and not subject to disclosure, except to authorized

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employees of the department as necessary to perform official duties of the department. Provided,

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however, the department shall maintain a twenty-four (24) hour automated verification system for

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law enforcement personnel to verify whether a registry identification card is valid.

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     (i) The department shall verify to law enforcement personnel whether a registry

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identification card is valid solely by confirming the random registry identification number.

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     (j) (i) It shall be a crime, punishable by up to one hundred eighty (180) days in jail and a

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one thousand dollar ($1,000) fine, for any person, including an employee or official of the

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department or another state agency or local government, to breach the confidentiality of

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information obtained pursuant to this chapter. Notwithstanding this provision, the department

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employees may notify law enforcement about falsified or fraudulent information submitted to the

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department.

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     (k) (j) On or before January 1 of each odd numbered year, the department shall report to

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the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare and to the Senate Committee on Health

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and Human Services on the use of marijuana for symptom relief. The report shall provide:

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     (1) The number of applications for registry identification cards, the number of qualifying

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patients and primary caregivers approved, the nature of the debilitating medical conditions of the

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qualifying patients, the number of registry identification cards revoked, and the number of

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practitioners providing written certification for qualifying patients;

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     (2) An evaluation of the costs permitting the use of marijuana for symptom relief,

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including any costs to law enforcement agencies and costs of any litigation;

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     (3) Statistics regarding the number of marijuana-related prosecutions against registered

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patients and caregivers, and an analysis of the facts underlying those prosecutions;

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     (4) Statistics regarding the number of prosecutions against physicians for violations of

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this chapter; and

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     (5) Whether the United States Food and Drug Administration has altered its position

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regarding the use of marijuana for medical purposes or has approved alternative delivery systems

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for marijuana.

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     (6) The application for qualifying patients' registry identification card shall include a

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question asking whether the patient would like the department to notify him or her of any clinical

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studies about marijuana's risk or efficacy. The department shall inform those patients who answer

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in the affirmative of any such studies it is notified of, that will be conducted in Rhode Island. The

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department may also notify those patients of medical studies conducted outside of Rhode Island.

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     21-28.6-7. Scope of chapter. -- (a) This chapter shall not permit:

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     (1) Any person to undertake any task under the influence of marijuana, when doing so

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would constitute negligence or professional malpractice;

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     (2) The smoking of marijuana:

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     (i) In a school bus or other form of public transportation;

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     (ii) On any school grounds;

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     (iii) In any correctional facility;

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     (iv) In any public place;

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     (v) In any licensed drug treatment facility in this state; or

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     (vi) Where exposure to the marijuana smoke significantly adversely affects the health,

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safety, or welfare of children.

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     (3) Any person to operate, navigate, or be in actual physical control of any motor vehicle,

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aircraft, or motorboat while under the influence of marijuana. However, a registered qualifying

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patient shall not be considered to be under the influence solely for having marijuana metabolites

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in his or her system.

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     (4) Any person found in violation of the provisions of this subsection (a) shall be subject

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to a fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000).

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     (b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require:

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     (1) A government medical assistance program or private health insurer to reimburse a

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person for costs associated with the medical use of marijuana; or

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     (2) An employer to accommodate the medical use of marijuana in any workplace.

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     (c) Fraudulent representation to a law enforcement official of any fact or circumstance

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relating to the medical use of marijuana to avoid arrest or prosecution shall be punishable by a

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fine of five hundred dollars ($500) which shall be in addition to any other penalties that may

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apply for making a false statement for the nonmedical use of marijuana.

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     21-28.6-8. Affirmative defense and dismissal. -- (a) Except as provided in section 21-

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28.6-7, a person and a person's primary caregiver, if any, cardholder may assert the medical

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purpose for using marijuana as a defense to any prosecution involving marijuana, and such

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defense shall be presumed valid where the evidence shows that:

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     (1) The qualifying patient's practitioner has stated that, in the practitioner's professional

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opinion, after having completed a full assessment of the person's medical history and current

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medical condition made in the course of a bona fide practitioner-patient relationship, the potential

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benefits of using marijuana for medical purposes would likely outweigh the health risks for the

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qualifying patient; and The cardholder has been issued a registry identification card at the time of

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the possession in question and the card’s validity has been confirmed by the department; and

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     (2) The person and the person's primary caregiver, if any, were collectively cardholder

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was in possession of a quantity of marijuana that was not more than what is permitted under this

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chapter to ensure the uninterrupted availability of marijuana for the purpose of alleviating the

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person's medical condition or symptoms associated with the medical condition.

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     (b) A person may assert the medical purpose for using marijuana in a motion to dismiss,

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and the charges shall be dismissed following an evidentiary hearing where the defendant shows

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the elements listed in subsection (a) of this section.

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     (c) Any interest in or right to property that was possessed, owned, or used in connection

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with a person's use of marijuana for medical purposes shall not be forfeited if the person or the

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person's primary caregiver demonstrates the person's medical purpose for using marijuana

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pursuant to this section.

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     21-28.6-9. Enforcement. -- (a) If the department fails to adopt regulations to implement

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this chapter within one hundred twenty (120) days of the effective date of this act, a qualifying

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patient may commence an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to compel the department to

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perform the actions mandated pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

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     (b) If the department fails to issue a valid registry identification card in response to a

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valid application submitted pursuant to this chapter within thirty-five (35) days of its submission,

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the registry identification card shall be deemed granted and a copy of the registry identification

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application shall be deemed valid registry identification card.

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     (c) The department shall revoke and shall not reissue the registry identification card of

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any cardholder who:

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     (1) Willfully violates any of the provisions of this chapter; or

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     (2) Is convicted of, placed on probation, whose case is filed pursuant to section 12-10-12

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where the defendant pleads nolo contendere or whose case is deferred pursuant to section 12-19-

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19 where the defendant pleads nolo contendere for any felony offense under chapter 21-28

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(“Rhode Island Controlled Substances Act”) or a similar offense from any other jurisdiction.

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     (d) Fraudulent representation to a law enforcement official of any fact or circumstance

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relating to the medical use of marijuana to avoid arrest or prosecution shall be a misdemeanor

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subject to imprisonment for up to one year and fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or both.

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This shall be in addition to any other penalties that may apply.

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     (e) If a cardholder exceeds the possessions limits set forth in subsection 21-28.6-4(a), he

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or she shall be subject to arrest and prosecution under chapter 21-28 (“Rhode Island Controlled

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Substances Act”).

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 21-28.6 of the General Laws entitled "The Edward O. Hawkins

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and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following

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section:

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     21-28.6-13. Law enforcement training and curriculum. – The department and the

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department of attorney general may provide training and curriculum to law enforcement agencies

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throughout the state on the provisions of this chapter.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC02008

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS - THE EDWARD O. HAWKINS AND THOMAS C.

SLATER MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT

***

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     This act would create new registration requirements with the Rhode Island department of

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health in regard to the medicinal use of marijuana. The act would establish and identify the

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position of a “compassion center cardholder,” and would set forth certain procedures to be

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followed by compassion center cardholders, primary care cardholders, and patient cardholders in

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regard to the medical use of marijuana.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC02008

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