Rhode Island Exploratory Study - Medical Marijuana
- Rhode Island passed legislation in 2006 that allows patients to keep and grow limited amounts of cannabis.
- The law introduces a confidential, mandatory, state-operated patient registry, which issues identification cards to eligible patients.
Content of the study
On January 3, 2006, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed legislation mandating the Department of Health (DOH) to establish a program for the registration of qualified patients and their caregivers to hold and grow limited amounts of marijuana for personal use for legally defined diseases and circumstances. .
The study was designed to describe the formulation and implementation of the program - to identify the patient's expectations before enrollment and to describe the patient's receptive experience with the enrollment process.
Results and conclusions
The results of the study show that 309 different GPs registered 980 patients , indicating a level of program effectiveness that meets the patient's needs.
There are no indications that patients enrolled in the program were arrested or prosecuted - and that despite concerns about the state's harsh approach to marijuana use, patients were pleased that the program existed.
Sources: study , picture: www.ceskenoviny.cz