Rhode Island Democrats will introduce a bill to legalize weed this year

Gene Kim

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP/WPRI) — The legalization of recreational marijuana in Massachusetts is causing some Rhode Island lawmakers to say it’s time to catch up to their neighbor.

Rhode Island’s legal pot proponents on Wednesday plan to officially kick off their fight to pass state legislation this year.

The same Democratic lawmakers who sponsored pot legalization bills in previous legislative sessions, Providence Rep. Scott Slater and Cranston Sen. Josh Miller, plan to reintroduce the bills. The state’s legalization debate increased last year but lawmakers have never voted on the legislation.

Jared Moffat, director of Regulate Rhode Island told Eyewitness News that the bill has been in the works for eight years.

The bill will replace the state’s existing policy of prohibition and “allow adults, 21 and older, to possess a limited amount of marijuana and also establish a framework to regulate marijuana businesses that could cultivate and sell marijuana to adults, 21 and older,” said Moffat.

Proponents cite polls showing support for legalization. The taxation and regulation of marijuana is supported by 52% in Johnston, 58% in Newport and 60% in Coventry.

While opposition voiced concern over marijuana accessible and the state’s youth, Sen. Miller stated that the bill was created with public safety in mind. “Our young citizens are vulnerable to accessing marijuana that might not be pure, marijuana that might be dangerous. So we could save lives by [passing] this.”

Massachusetts voters approved a November ballot initiative to legalize pot for adults but a new law delays the opening of retail marijuana stores until mid-2018.

Governor Raimondo has also stated that there is no need to rush legalization.

Moffat said he believed the time for Rhode Island legislators to act was now, though. “So the dominos are starting to fall in New England and it’s time for Rhode Island to look very seriously at this issue and pass a bill. Otherwise, we risk falling behind those other states.”

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