R.I. to allow medical pot dispensaries

PROVIDENCE, R.I., June 10 (UPI) -- Rhode Island has become only the second U.S. state to allow licensed dispensaries to sell medical marijuana to the critically ill, observers said.

State Senate lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a bill allowing Rhode Island to join California in allowing the dispensaries with enough votes to overcome a possible veto by Gov. Donald Carcieri, the Providence (R.I.) Journal reported.

The governor, who last year vetoed a bill that would have authorized a study of allowing marijuana dispensaries, told the newspaper he would "do the same thing I've done with it in the past," but the bill's 31-2 margin of approval in the Senate and its 63-5 victory margin in the state House of Representatives portended a likely override.

Senate sponsor Rhoda Perry, D-Providence, said if Carcieri vetoes the measure, the State Assembly would move to override it before the session ends later this month, telling the Journal, "That's one of the reasons that we (passed) it as fast as we did it. We still have a few weeks left here … I just can't imagine the leadership wouldn't have the will to override a veto."