RI considers legalizing, taxing pot

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A special Senate Commission met for the first time Wednesday, to discuss the possibility of legalizing marijuana in Rhode Island.

Lawmakers voted to create the nine-member panel back in July, with a goal to find ways to help close a multi-million dollar budget gap that continues to grow.

"We definitely are focusing on, because of the budget, the fiscal impact and the human resource impact," said state Sen. Joshua Miller, who sponsored the bill that led to the creation of the commission. "We could utilize law enforcement, judicial and incarceration resources on something that may be more important than locking up people for small quantities of marijuana."

The group will study issues surrounding the state's position on marijuana, including the money the state could generate if it enacts a $35 sin tax for purchases of an ounce or more.

"There are a whole range of things that have worked, more or less, in other states and other communities, and we want to look at those," Miller said.

The panel's first meeting comes just months after lawmakers legalized so-called compassion centers in the state, which sets up non-profit stores where chronically ill patients can buy medical marijuana.

Rhode Island passed a medical marijuana law in 2006 and a spokeswoman said Gov. Donald Carcieri remains opposed to further legalizing the drug.

"The governor has been opposed to any effort by the General Assembly to weaken the drug laws in Rhode Island and has vetoed both the medical marijuana bill and the compassion center bill," said governor spokeswoman Amy Kempe.

The commission is expected to meet several more times before submitting a final report at the end of January.