2016 -- H 7806

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS - THE EDWARD O. HAWKINS AND THOMAS C.

SLATER MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT

     

     Introduced By: Representative Scott Slater

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2016

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 21-28.6-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 21-28.6 entitled "The

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Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act" is hereby amended to read as

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follows:

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     21-28.6-3. Definitions. -- For the purposes of this chapter:

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      (1) "Cardholder" means a qualifying patient or a primary caregiver who has registered

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with the department and has been issued and possesses a valid registry identification card.

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      (2) (i) "Compassion center" means a not-for-profit corporation, subject to the provisions

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of chapter 6 of title 7, and registered under § 21-28.6-12, that acquires, possesses, cultivates,

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manufactures, delivers, transfers, transports, supplies or dispenses marijuana, and/or related

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supplies and educational materials, to patient cardholders and/or their registered caregiver

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cardholder, who have designated it as one of their primary caregivers.

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      (ii) "Compassion center cardholder" means a principal officer, board member, employee,

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volunteer, or agent of a compassion center who has registered with the department and has been

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issued and possesses a valid registry identification card.

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      (3) "Debilitating medical condition" means:

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      (i) Cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus, acquired

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immune deficiency syndrome, Hepatitis C, or the treatment of these conditions;

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      (ii) A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition, or its treatment, that produces

 

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one or more of the following: cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe, debilitating, chronic pain;

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severe nausea; seizures, including but not limited to, those characteristic of epilepsy; or severe

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and persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to, those characteristic of multiple

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sclerosis or Crohn's disease; or agitation of Alzheimer's Disease; or

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      (iii) Any other medical condition or its treatment approved by the department, as

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provided for in § 21-28.6-5.

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      (4) "Department" means the Rhode Island department of health or its successor agency.

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     (5) "Immature marijuana plant" means a marijuana plant with no observable flowers or

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buds that is more than eight inches (8") tall and eight inches (8") wide.

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      (5)(6) "Marijuana" has the meaning given that term in § 21-28-1.02(26).

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      (6)(7) "Mature marijuana plant" means a marijuana plant that has flowers or buds that

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are readily observable by an unaided visual examination.

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      (7)(8) "Medical use" means the acquisition, possession, cultivation, manufacture, use,

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delivery, transfer, or transportation of marijuana or paraphernalia relating to the consumption of

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marijuana to alleviate a patient cardholder's debilitating medical condition or symptoms

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associated with the medical condition.

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      (8)(9) "Practitioner" means a person who is licensed with authority to prescribe drugs

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pursuant to chapter 37 of title 5 or a physician licensed with authority to prescribe drugs in

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Massachusetts or Connecticut.

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      (9)(10) "Primary caregiver" means either a natural person, who is at least twenty-one

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(21) years old, or a compassion center. A natural person primary caregiver may assist no more

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than five (5) qualifying patients with their medical use of marijuana.

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      (10)(11) "Qualifying patient" means a person who has been diagnosed by a practitioner

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as having a debilitating medical condition and is a resident of Rhode Island.

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      (11)(12) "Registry identification card" means a document issued by the department that

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identifies a person as a registered qualifying patient, a registered primary caregiver, or a

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registered principal officer, board member, employee, volunteer, or agent of a compassion center.

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      (12)(13) "Seedling" means a marijuana plant with no observable flowers or buds an

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unusable marijuana seedling plant that is no taller than eight inches (8") and no wider than eight

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inches (8") that is in a cultivating container and shall not count towards the plant limits in this

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chapter.

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      (13)(14) "Unusable marijuana" means marijuana seeds, stalks, seedlings, and unusable

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roots.

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      (14)(15) "Usable marijuana" means the dried leaves and flowers of the marijuana plant,

 

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and any mixture or preparation thereof, but does not include the seeds, stalks, and roots of the

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plant.

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      (15)(16) "Written certification" means the qualifying patient's medical records, and a

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statement signed by a practitioner, stating that in the practitioner's professional opinion, the

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potential benefits of the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the health risks for the

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qualifying patient. A written certification shall be made only in the course of a bona fide,

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practitioner-patient relationship after the practitioner has completed a full assessment of the

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qualifying patient's medical history. The written certification shall specify the qualifying patient's

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debilitating medical condition or conditions.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS - THE EDWARD O. HAWKINS AND THOMAS C.

SLATER MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT

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     This act would provide a definition for an immature marijuana plant and update the

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definition of seedling.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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