R.I. Senate to vote on bill permitting marijuana sales

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Rhode Island's Senate is expected to vote on a bill allowing nonprofit stores to sell marijuana to chronically ill patients.

The proposal was scheduled for a floor vote Tuesday afternoon in the Senate. If adopted, it would then head to the House.

In 2006, Rhode Island became the eleventh state to permit medical patients and their caregivers to possess small amounts of marijuana. But state lawmakers never specified how patients were supposed to buy marijuana.

The drug remains illegal under federal law.

Rep. Thomas Slater, who supports the proposal, says Rhode Island needs regulated marijuana stores so patients are not attacked by violent street dealers. Federal officials oppose the medical marijuana program and have raided marijuana shops in California.

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