The state legislative session came to an abrupt end this year, leaving hundreds of potential laws lost in legal limbo. These bills were pushed at the last minute from the senate to the house, and the house chose to adjourn rather than go into overtime to review them.
There is a chance that emergency sessions or other measures may be taken to consider some of the dangling legislation, such as the Good Samaritan law, which expired on July 1 and may, in fact, cost the lives of Rhode Islanders if not reinstated (see motifri.com/goodsamaritan). However, “it is extremely unlikely that the Tax and Regulate bill will receive any further consideration before the legislature reconvenes in January,” said Senator Josh Miller (D), one of the bill’s authors and sponsors.
So if you, like the majority of the state, would like to see legislation pass to legalize, regulate and tax cannabis, what can you do in the upcoming months to help promote action among our elected representatives? Show them the broad base of support that exists for these measures. Show them they are not risking reelection or risking spawning new opponents by supporting the Tax and Regulate bill. Show them that their real political risk lies in sticking the bill in endless review cycles, displaying an inability to act or effect any sort of positive change. The non-profit Regulate RI encourages Rhode Islanders to ask both Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed to put H 5777/S 510 up for a vote! You can reach them at rep-mattiello@rilin.state.ri.us and sen-paivaweed@rilin.state.ri.us
Here’s a pre-drafted letter you can use: https://secure2.convio.net/mpp/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=3513
