PRO-MEDICAL MARIJUANA EFFORT RAMPS UP

The Marijuana Policy Project is stepping up its efforts to get the
General Assembly to enact a law allowing the use of marijuana to ease
the pain of people with serious illnesses.

The General Assembly passed such a measure this past session, but it
was vetoed by Governor Carcieri . The Senate voted to override
Carcieri's veto in June, but the House never dealt with the issue.

Today, the Marijuana Policy Project will unveil a billboard at the
corner of Orms and State street in Providence, urging the House to
override the veto.

The billboard will read: "Protect medical marijuana patients . .
.Don't leave us out in the cold . . . Override the governor's veto."

The advertisement will be up for a month, according to Bruce Mirken,
director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project, which is
working with the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition on the billboard.

Rep. Thomas C. Slater, D-Providence, who sponsored the House
legislation, said last week, "I have been assured by the leadership
that it will be overridden before the start of the session."

House Speaker William J. Murphy , D-West Warwick, was not as
definitive, saying through his spokesman, "The leadership is
committed to making all efforts to pass Representative Slater's legislation."