Senate sends medical marijuana bill back to committee

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A bill expanding Rhode Island's medical marijuana program hits a roadblock in the General Assembly.

The Senate voted 33-2 yesterday to send the proposal back to committee. The bill would allow up to three nonprofit stores in the state to sell marijuana to patients enrolled in Rhode Island's medical marijuana program.

The state allows patients to possess marijuana for pain relief, but the drug is still illegal under federal law.

Senator Rhoda Perry, the bill's sponsor, asked the Senate to halt the bill after it was amended to ban patients from smoking marijuana in motor vehicles or in front of other people.

Perry says the amendment insults chronically ill patients who use marijuana for pain relief.

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