The Pawtucket Times reported June 23 that the House vote followed the Senate's 34-2 approval of similar legislation earlier this month. With veto-proof margins of victory in both houses of the General Assembly, supporters are calling on Carcieri to withdraw his veto threat.

"I hope the governor realizes that the people of Rhode Island support this bill by over 70 percent," said Rep. Thomas Slater (D-Providence).

But a Carcieri spokesperson, Jeff Neal, replied: "Governor Carcieri and every law-enforcement officer in the state took an oath to uphold the laws of this country and this would place them in an untenable position. Federal law states that marijuana is a banned substance and the Supreme Court recently upheld the primacy of federal law over state law."

The measure allows patients with chronic or debilitating diseases like cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and Crohn's disease to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana or 12 marijuana plants for medical use. The exception to the state's drug laws also would apply to up to two primary caregivers. Medical-marijuana users and providers would have to be certified by the state Department of Health.

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