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June 20, 2007

Senate overrides governor's medical marijuana veto

PROVIDENCE -- The state Senate has overridden Governor Carcieri's veto of a medical marijuana program.

A spokesman for Senate President Joseph Montalbano says the vote was 29 to 4. House lawmakers are planning a similar vote later this week.

Democratic lawmakers are trying to make permanent a program allowing seriously ill patients to use marijuana to ease their symptoms. The program will expire this month unless the House and Senate override Carcieri's veto.

The program applies to patients with cancer, AIDS and other debilitating illnesses.

Carcieri, a Republican, opposes the program because he says it leaves patients open to federal prosecution and encourages them to buy drugs from illicit dealers.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 6:48 PM | Permalink

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