Rhode Island is now the 11th state in America to legalize the growth, purchase and use of medicinal marijuana.
State legislators voted 59 to 13 on Tuesday to override a veto by Gov. Don Carcieri, allowing people with illnesses such as cancer and AIDS to use the drug as an adjunctive therapy.
The new law allows those in need to grow up to 12 marijuana plants or buy 2 1/2 ounces of marijuana. These people are required to register with state authorities and get an identification card.
Rhode Island now joins Maine, Vermont, Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington as the only states to allow marijuana to be grown and used for medicinal purposes.
Federal law prohibits all use of marijuana, and the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that anyone who smokes, grows or possesses marijuana, even with a prescription from their doctor, can be prosecuted under federal law. Federal authorities, however, have admitted that they are very unlikely to arrest or prosecute medicinal marijuana users.
Medicinal marijuana is used to relieve many symptoms associated with cancer and AIDS, including nausea, muscle spasms and chronic pain. It has also been suggested in the treatment of migraines, arthritis and premenstrual syndrome.
This article is from MyDNA.com
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