2017 -- S 0277 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

     

     Introduced By: Senators Coyne, Seveney, Metts, DiPalma, and Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

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     WHEREAS, The effects of legalizing marijuana have not been fully vetted and analyzed

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in Rhode Island; and

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     WHEREAS, Data and analysis including, but not limited to, Colorado and Washington,

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as states that have legalized recreational use of marijuana, can help inform the conversation in

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Rhode Island and also include a review of the costs, benefits, and societal impact; and

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     WHEREAS, The effects on all populations including children, young and older adults, as

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well as students, and adults and youth in recovery should be considered; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

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consisting of twenty-two (22) nineteen (19) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the

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Senate, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of

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the Senate; three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives, not more than

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two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom

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shall be a representative from Smart Approaches to Marijuana or a similar organization, to be

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appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the President of the Substance Use

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Mental Health Council of RI, or designee; one of whom shall be a member of an organization that

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is a proponent for the legalization of marijuana, to be appointed by the President of the Senate;

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one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Medical Society, or designee;

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one of whom shall be a member of a local chamber of commerce, to be appointed by the

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President of the Senate; one of whom shall be the Director of the Department of Health, or

 

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designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Police Chief’s Association, or

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designee; one of whom shall be the Attorney General, or designee; one of whom shall represent

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medical marijuana patients in Rhode Island, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of

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whom shall be an educator in Rhode Island, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of

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whom shall be a mental health professional, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of

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whom shall be the President of the Rhode Island Chapter of the NAACP (National Association

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for the Advancement of Colored People), or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the

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local chapter of DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality), or designee; one of whom shall

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be a local representative of Doctors for Cannabis Regulation (DFCR), to be appointed by the

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Board President of the DFCR; one of whom shall be a criminal defense attorney, to be jointly

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appointed by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate; and one of whom shall be

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the President of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, or designee.

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     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

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commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

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resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

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of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which

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is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.

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     The purpose of said Commission shall be to conduct a comprehensive review and make

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recommendations regarding marijuana and the effects of its use on the residents of Colorado and

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Washington to the extent available, and to study the fiscal impact to those states; and thereafter

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the potential impact on Rhode Island.

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     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

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the call of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House and organize. The President

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of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall each select one member to serve as co-

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chairpersons of the commission.

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     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

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     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

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     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purpose of this resolution.

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     The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide

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suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

 

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     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and results to the General

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Assembly on or before March 1, 2018, and said commission shall expire on July 1, 2018.

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