Gina Raimondo on Drugs

Legalize marijuana, since we're surrounded by legal states

The proposal, included in her budget plan, would create one of the most regulated recreational pot industries in the country, the governor said, aimed at reducing the health and safety problems experienced in some of the 10 other states that have approved recreational use in recent years.

For instance, it would prohibit home-growing of recreational pot, now allowed in MA, ME, and VT, and ban high-potency products from recreational store shelves, such as "dabs," which are concentrated resins that are smoked.

If the proposal is approved by lawmakers, the first recreational stores could open by next January.

Jobs and insurance, to combat addiction

Address substance use disorders outside of emergency rooms

The Reinventing Medicaid Act of 2015 included more than 40 individual initiatives designed to transform how the state pays for health care services. The initiatives include:
• Contracting with Accountable Care Entities that have a financial incentive to manage the total costs and quality of care for Medicaid beneficiaries. To date, five Accountable Care Entities have signed up for the program.
• A special Accountable Entity program designed to serve Rhode Islanders with serious mental illness, some of the most vulnerable and high-cost Medicaid clients.
• A program to address the needs of Rhode Islanders with substance use disorders so they are served better outside of the emergency room.
• A program to serve people who are at high risk of homelessness.
• Reforms to the Cedar program which offer parents of children special needs with more choices and flexibility.
• Better enforcement, through new electronic monitoring systems, of Medicaid rules around waste, fraud and abuse.

Rated B+ by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance.

OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2016 NORML scores as follows:

• C-/D/F: `hard-on-drugs` stance (approx. 243 members)
• C: mixed record on drug reform (approx. 45 members)
• A/B: pro-drug-reform stance (approx. 293 members)

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law`s mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to achieve the repeal of marijuana prohibition so that the responsible use of cannabis by adults is no longer subject to penalty.

NORML is a nonprofit, public-interest lobby that for more than 30 years has provided a voice for those Americans who oppose marijuana prohibition. We represent the interests of the tens of millions of Americans who smoke marijuana responsibly and believe the recreational and medicinal use of marijuana should no longer be a crime.

NORML supports the removal of all criminal penalties for the private possession & responsible use of marijuana by adults, including the cultivation for personal use, and the casual nonprofit transfers of small amounts. This model is called `decriminalization.`

NORML additionally supports the development of a legally controlled market for marijuana, where consumers could purchase it from a safe, legal and regulated source. This model is referred to as `legalization.`

NORML believes that marijuana smoking is not for kids and should only be used responsibly by adults. As with alcohol consumption, it must never be an excuse for misconduct or other bad behavior. Driving or operating heavy equipment while impaired from marijuana should be prohibited.

NORML strongly supports the right of patients to use marijuana as a medicine when their physician recommends it to relieve pain and suffering.

Lastly, NORML supports the right of farmers to commercially cultivate hemp for industrial purposes, such as food and fiber production.