The top lawmakers in Rhode Island’s House and Senate both say marijuana legalization is “inevitable” in the state—but nevertheless, there’s still uncertainty about the prospects of passing the reform this year. As the legislature considers separate legalization proposals from the governor and legislative leaders, both House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi (D) and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio (D) have said that the writing is on the wall when it comes to ending prohibition. That said, concerns about the certain provisions of the measures have left the leaders unsure of when exactly marijuana prohibition could end. “I am not philosophically opposed to the legalization of recreational marijuana,” Shekarchi told The Providence Journal this week. The speaker said in a separate interview that while the House Finance Committee is slated to take up Gov. Daniel McKee’s (D) legalization proposal on Thursday, it’s “very possible it might not get done this year.”
Kyle Jaeger, Marijuana Moment, 04/28/2021 17:55:00