2019 -- S 0417

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LC000514

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - MARIJUANA IMPACT STUDY

     Introduced By: Senators Coyne, Conley, Lynch Prata, Seveney, and Lawson

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 95

MARIJUANA IMPACT STUDY

     23-95-1. Marijuana - Baseline impact study

     (a) The department of health shall coordinate with the department of transportation, the

department of revenue, in consultation with the department of health and human services, and the

department of public safety, to implement a comprehensive baseline impact study of the impact

of marijuana use in this state, which shall be conducted within ninety (90) days of the enactment

of this chapter and which study shall contain an agreement with an entity capable of conducting

whatever research shall be necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter.

     (b) In contracting with an entity capable of conducting the study pursuant to this chapter,

the department of health shall:

     (1) Provide preference to Rhode Island based-research entities which are capable of

conducting the required research.

     (2) Conduct the study for a duration of twenty-four (24) months and the study shall

include, but not be limited to:

     (i) Any and all rates and patterns of use;

     (ii) Any and all related risk behaviors including, but not limited to, marijuana use in

combination with alcohol and other controlled substances;

     (iii) Any and all marijuana-related impaired driving convictions and any fatalities related

thereto;

     (iv) Any and all marijuana-related emergency department or urgent care facility visits and

hospitalizations;

     (v) Any and all marijuana-related poison center calls;

     (vi) Any and all marijuana-related crimes;

     (vii) Any and all marijuana-related employment issues;

     (viii) Any and all factors that indicate a marijuana-related impact on drug prevention

strategies and economic and fiscal impacts for state and local governments, which shall include

the impact of legalization on the production and distribution of marijuana in the illicit market as

well as costs and benefits to state and local revenue. The research entity may use data from other

jurisdictions as well as data from within the state, and the study shall examine trends in public

safety, public health and other societal costs including, but not limited to, those included in this

chapter that have accompanied the legalization and commercialization of marijuana for medical

purposes; the decriminalization of possession of small amounts of marijuana; and the

commercialization of marijuana for adult recreational use; and

     (ix) The department of health shall submit a report of its findings to the governor, senate

president and speaker of the house no later than July 1, 2021.

     23-95-2. Study appropriation.

     There is hereby appropriated, out of money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for

the fiscal year 2020-2021, the sum of up to one million dollars ($1,000,000) to the department of

health for the purposes of funding the study in this chapter. Provided however, that if during this

study or within a year of its conclusion the state legalizes, regulates and taxes the retail sale of

marijuana, this study shall be funded or reimbursed from those revenues. Any funding in the form

of grants from other government sources shall be exhausted prior to the disbursement of any state

funds in the implementation of this study. The state controller is hereby authorized and directed to

draw their orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as

may be from time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.

     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 HEALTH AND SAFETY - MARIJUANA IMPACT STUDY

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     This act would create and fund a study on the impact of the use of marijuana in this state.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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