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3/17/10: The Rhode Island Department of Health apparently reversed its stance on the confidentiality of doctors when it provided a list of all doctors who have recommended medical marijuana more than ten times to the Providence Journal, which then published it. The Providence Journal also published a response featuring several Rhode Island doctors arguing that they should be allowed to recommend whatever works for their patients.

2/3/10: The Rhode Island Department of Health held a hearing on the proposed Compassion Center regulations yesterday, February 2. The article features Rhode Island patients as well as RIPAC's own JoAnne Leppanen. Read the Providence Journal article here.

1/31/10: The first monthly Newport County Patient Meeting is the first Tuesday of every month in Middletown, RI. This meeting is only open to licensed patients and licensed caregivers attending with their patients. Call 861-1601 for directions.

1/28/10: Patients Out of Time, in association with RIPAC, UC San Francisco and the Rhode Island State Nurses Association will be holding an Accredited Medical Cannabis Therapeutics Conference. The conference will be held April 15-17, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick, RI. Click here for more information including registration, continuing medical education credits, and a day-by-day schedule.

1/11/10: Today New Jersey became the 14th medical marijuana state! The law will take effect in six months. Although patients will not be allowed to grow their own medicine, they will be able to acquire it through state-regulated dispensaries. Click here to read the New York Times article. For further inquiry, please contact the Coalition for Medical Marijuana - New Jersey. 

12/18/09: Today the RI Dept of Health released a working draft of the Announcement of open Application Period for Operation of a Medical Marijuana Compassion Center. The final version of the announcement will be made available when the amended regulations are filed with the Secretary of State. A formal public hearing on the regulations has been scheduled for Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 2:00PM in the Auditorium of the Cannon Building (on the lower level). Click here to read. Click here for the updated regulations.

12/13/09: Today Congress voted to lift the Barr amendment in Washington D.C. that prevented medical marijuana and Initiative 59. The city will now use administrative regulations to implement its medical-marijuana policy. Initiative 59 was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 1998. 

11/10/09: Today the American Medical Association (AMA) voted to reverse its long-held position that marijuana be retained as a Schedule I substance with no medical value. The report entitled, "Use of Cannabis for Medicinal Purposes," affirmed the therapeutic benefits of marijuana and called for further research. Click here to read the report.

11/3/09: Today, with a citizens ballot initiative, Maine became the fifth state in the nation to allow dispensaries where medical marijuana would be available to patients with certain medical conditions. Under the law, the state will oversee and license those dispensaries, much like RI.

10/19/09: We are overjoyed that the Obama administration has come out publicly again today to direct federal prosecutors, FBI officials and DEA officials NOT to arrest patients and caregivers who are complying with state law in the 13 states that currently have medical marijuana laws in place. It is great to see that our President has kept this promise from his presidential campaign and that he realizes that this is not a good use of time or resources. Click here to read the memorandum.

10/10/09: The RI Medical Marijuana Program (MMJ) and two patients in RI have been featured in the well know and accredited publication, The New York Times.This is quite an accomplishment. Click here to read the web version of the article.

10/9/09: Today the RI Dept of Health announced that the RI Medical Marijuana Program has just licensed it's 1000 patient!

8/11/09: Today the RI Dept of Health released a draft of the regulations for the first state regulated, not for profit compassion center in Rhode Island. Click here to read.

8/10/09: We are deeply saddened by the news of the loss of Rep. Thomas C. Slater earlier today. He was a hardworking champion for patients and all Rhode Islanders and he helped to create and protect the rights of medical marijuana patients in the Ocean State. Rep. Slater kept fighting for people until the end, as long as it took, he was there. Rhode Islanders can’t help but to mourn and remember him in light of all the real and lasting positive changes he brought about for our state.

3/5/09: Last night the medical marijuana compassion center bill was heard by legislative committees in the Senate and House of Representatives. You can read excellent coverage in The Providence Journal and The Woonsocket Call and watch videos of patients' testimony at YouTube.com/RIpatientsDotOrg.

2/25/09: At a Justice Department press conference, Attorney General Eric Holder said that ending raids on medical marijuana dispensaries "is now American policy." You can watch the video on YouTube!

Feb 2009: This year's bills are out! On Feb 4, Sen. Rhoda Perry introduced S0185, and on Feb 10, Rep. Tom Slater introduced H5359. 50 of RI's 75 state representatives are co-sponsors of H5359! Watch for hearing dates in March...