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House votes in favor marijuana centers

Updated: Wednesday, 10 Jun 2009, 9:16 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 20 May 2009, 5:28 PM EDT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The Ocean State is one step closer to creating compassion centers that would distribute marijuana to patients in the state's medical marijuana program.

On Wednesday, the House voted 63 to 5 to approve legislation that would allow the  creation the centers. If passed, Rhode Island would join only two other states including California and New Mexico that allow marijuana dispensing centers.

Rep. Thomas Slater sponsored the bill.

Slater responded Wednesday's vote saying, “Without the threat of federal raids, there’s no practical reason not to develop a safe way for patients to access this drug. When we recognize that patients need marijuana to ease their pain and the federal government isn’t standing in the way, it’s cruel to refuse to allow them a safe means to get it.”

Thirteen states in total allow the medicinal use of marijuana.
 

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