Rhode Island raises the bar

Alright. This just in from the Marijuana Policy Project. Rhode Island, that tiny little state, showed some big balls yesterday and told the US Supreme Court to stick that majority opinion where the sun don't shine. Hot on the heels of the Court's rejection of State's Rights to show compassion for sick people, the Rhode Island Senate passed medical marijuana bill S.B. 710 by a 34-2 margin. The bill will now go to the House.

"In light of the Supreme Court's decision, it's more important than ever that states pass medical marijuana laws," said Neal Levine, director of state policies for the Marijuana Policy Project, based in Washington, D.C. "Rhode Island lawmakers have demonstrated that the Supreme Court decision does not prevent states from protecting medical marijuana patients from arrest."

Because 99% of all marijuana arrests are made at the state and local level, state legislation is the most effective means of protecting medical marijuana patients. In the 10 states that have already passed medical marijuana laws -- Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington -- the
federal government has rarely interfered with patients who follow state law.

A reminder to all of us that while it's important to keep the pressure on the DC crowd, much can be accomplished on the local level. Here's hoping more states will be willing to demonstrate to the feds that hell hath no fury like a state whose rights have been scorned.