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

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

in Rhode Island; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

the potential impact on Rhode Island.

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

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

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

chairpersons of the commission.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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