PROVIDENCE, R.I. (April 6, 2017) – Yesterday, a Rhode Island House committee passed a bill that would set the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by terminally ill patients. A bipartisan coalition of five representatives introduced House Bill 5676 (HB5676) on March 1.…
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Mar. 17, 2017) – Bills introduced in the Rhode Island legislature would legalize marijuana for recreational use, taking a big step toward nullifying federal cannabis prohibition in practice in the state. Senate Bill 420 (S420) was introduced by Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Cranston) and four bipartisan co-sponsors to legalize marijuana under a tax-and-regulate system…
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (March 6, 2017) A bill introduced in the Rhode Island Senate would legalize the retail sale of raw milk in the state and take an important step toward rejecting a federal prohibition scheme in effect. Sen. Nicholas Kettle (R-Coventry) along with a bipartisan coalition of four senators introduced Senate Bill 247 (S247) on February 15.…
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Feb. 23, 2016) – A Rhode Island Bill would legalize marijuana for recreational use, taking a big step toward nullifying federal cannabis prohibition in practice in the state. House Bill 5555 (H5555) was introduced by Rep. Scott Slater (D-Providence) and four co-sponsors to legalize marijuana under a tax-and-regulate system enforced at the state…
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Feb. 6, 2017) – A bill introduced in the Rhode Island House would require a judicial order for the use of “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications. Passage of the bill would not only protect privacy in the state, but would also hinder one aspect of the…
PROVIDENCE R.I. (Jan 1, 2017) – Today, a law went into effect legalizing the production and processing of industrial hemp for commercial purposes in Rhode Island, setting the foundation to nullify federal prohibition in practice. A coalition of five Democrats introduced House Bill 8232 (H8232) on May 19. As introduced, the legislation would have only allowed…
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (July 25, 2016) – Last week, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo signed a bill expanding the state’s medical marijuana law, further nullifying federal prohibition in practice. A trio of Democrats, Rep. Scott Slater, Rep. Patricia Serpa and Rep. Joseph Solomon, introduced House Bill 7142 (HB7142) in January. The legislation expands the state’s medical…
PROVIDENCE R.I. (July 18, 2016) – Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo has signed a bill legalizing the production and processing of industrial hemp for commercial purposes in the state, setting the foundation to nullify federal prohibition in practice. A coalition of five Democrats introduced House Bill 8232 (H8232) on May 19. As introduced, the legislation would…
PROVIDENCE R.I. (June 20, 2016) – The Rhode Island legislature has passed a bill to legalize the production and processing of industrial hemp for commercial purposes in the state, setting the foundation to nullify federal prohibition in practice. A coalition of five Democrats introduced House Bill 8232 (H8232) on May 19. As introduced, the legislation would…
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (May 13, 2016) – Yesterday, the Rhode Island House unanimously passed a bill that would set the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by terminally ill patients. Rep. Joseph McNamara introduced House Bill 7156 (H7156) in January. The legislation would give…