In a letter to Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio and other members of the Senate on Tuesday, leaders of the Young Democrats of Rhode Island and Students for Sensible Drug Policy thanked the senators for backing S 2420 because it would “improve Rhode Island’s ability to protect students, retain graduates, attract young professionals and create opportunities for a new generation of entrepreneurs.” The full letter is available below.
S 2420 would make possession of limited amounts of marijuana legal for adults 21 years of age and older, and it would establish a tightly controlled system of licensed marijuana cultivation sites, testing facilities, and retail stores.
“It’s a sensible proposal that is long overdue, and we are proud to stand with you in support of it,” the letter reads. “The time has come for Rhode Island to move forward and leave the antiquated policy of marijuana prohibition behind.”
A poll conducted in April of 2015 found that nearly three out of four voters aged 18 to 34 support regulating and taxing marijuana similarly to alcohol. The full results of the poll can be found here.
Full letter from Rhode Island youth leaders to ranking members of the Rhode Island Senate:
]]>Dear Honorable Members of the Rhode Island Senate,
We are writing on behalf of our organizations and their many members across Rhode Island to express our gratitude for your support of S 2420, the Marijuana, Regulation, Control, and Taxation Act.
The Young Democrats of Rhode Island and Students for Sensible Drug Policy represent a diverse group of young, civically engaged Rhode Islanders who share a commitment to promoting the health, safety, and general welfare of our communities. We strongly support S 2420 because it would dramatically enhance Rhode Island’s ability to protect teens, retain graduates, attract young professionals, and create opportunities for a new generation of entrepreneurs.
Our state’s current policy of marijuana prohibition has caused far more problems than it has solved. It has failed to prevent teens from accessing marijuana. It has disproportionately impacted lower-income communities and communities of color. And rather than eliminating the supply of marijuana, prohibition has forced it into an underground market in which consumers aren’t asked for ID, they don’t know what they’re getting, and they’re often exposed to other, more harmful substances.
S 2420 would replace our state’s underground marijuana economy with a regulated market for adults. Marijuana would be sold by licensed businesses that test their products, label them, and only sell them to adults who provide proof of age. These companies would also create good jobs for Rhode Islanders and generate tens of millions of dollars in new tax revenue to fund vital state programs and services.
It is a sensible proposal that is long overdue, and we are proud to stand with you in support of it. The time has come for Rhode Island to move forward and leave the antiquated policy of marijuana prohibition behind.
Sincerely,
Michael Beauregard
Young Democrats of Rhode IslandShmuel Barkan
Brown University Students for Sensible Drug PolicyPatrick Shea
University of Rhode Island Students for Sensible Drug Policy
Instead of levying hefty fees from patients like me who have debilitating health conditions, Governor Raimondo and lawmakers should tax those who use marijuana for enjoyment. For us patients, marijuana is often the only thing that eases our suffering, and it is already difficult to afford because health insurance does not cover it. Raising revenue from seriously ill patients medicine is wrong, but taxing recreational consumers is appropriate and could help alleviate our states deficit.
Jared Moffat, Director of Regulate Rhode Island, issued the following statement:
We tax alcohol, but not prescription medications. Similarly, it makes little sense to extract revenue from sick people who need marijuana as a medicine while keeping marijuana that is used for fun untaxed and in the illicit market. I suspect most recreational marijuana consumers would be happy to pay taxes if only the state would make it legal for them to do so. In addition to generating more revenue, regulating marijuana like alcohol would erode the illicit marijuana market and create new businesses and jobs all over the state. Its time to get our head out of the sand and move forward like our neighbors in Massachusetts and Vermont.
[From a press release]
]]>Phone banks help drive calls into the offices of elected officials to urge them to take a stand on an issue. At Regulate Rhode Island phone banks, volunteers talk with constituents in key legislative districts and ask them to let their legislator know that they support regulating marijuana like alcohol. Phone banks are effective and lots of fun!
Regulate Rhode Island will recognize the top volunteer phone bankers for each month starting in February by giving away a free Regulate Rhode Island t-shirt to the person who drives in the most calls!
Regular phone banks will also be taking place on the campuses of University of Rhode Island and Brown University. Check the Regulate Rhode Island calendar to see all the upcoming phone banks. And as always, thank you for supporting sensible marijuana policy reform. Please share this with friends and family so they can be part of the movement, too!
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