The Providence Journal reports
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — With marijuana-related bills swirling through the State House, Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin is bringing in a host of government officials and experts to Rhode Island to talk about how legalizing marijuana has affected their states.
Kilmartin said the forum was prompted by the onset of marijuana legislation this year. Various bills have been introduced, including one that proposes to legalize, tax and regulate a recreational market. Governor Raimondo has proposed changes to the medical marijuana program that would tighten some controls while boosting state revenues through registration fees on plants grown by private “caretakers.” Another measure would double the number of medical marijuana dispensaries in the state.
“Legalization proponents are quick to mention the perceived financial benefits of the taxation of legalized marijuana and lead with a sense of urgency about getting into the game before neighboring states do. However, there is little to no discussion about the real and significant regulatory, public health and law enforcement consequences of legalizing marijuana,” Kilmartin said.
Citing concerns raised in a recent report by the Massachusetts Senate’s special committee on marijuana, Kilmartin noted that the group flagged concerns that revenues could fall short of expectations and need to to be weighed against the costs of regulating a new industry. The commission also noted that there is no overarching standard for determining driver impairment from marijuana intoxication, creating new problems for law enforcement.
Panelists for the forum include: Marley Bordovsky, assistant director of prosecution and code enforcement for the Denver City Attorney’s Office; Adam Darnell, senior research associate for the Washington State Institute for Public Policy; Todd Mitchem of the industry group Coalition for Responsible Cannabis Production; Darwin Roberts, the Washington State deputy attorney general; and Massachusetts state Sen. Jason Lewis, chairman of the state Senate’s special committee on marijuana.
The forum will be hosted in partnership with the Conference of Western Attorneys General and the Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy at Brown University.
Article Link: http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20160312/NEWS/160319720
Conference of Western Attorneys General
Marijuana Regulatory Policy: Lessons from Western States
Tuesday, April 5, 2016 – 9:00am – 12:00pm
Warren Alpert Medical School Building of Brown University
Free/open to the public but space is limited.
Application link
Important public policy decisions are currently being considered regarding the legalization of marijuana for recreational and medicinal use in Rhode Island. Before the state can consider legalizing recreational marijuana, it is imperative to discuss the challenges of creating a robust regulatory framework for a new industry, the cost-benefit analysis of creating a government oversight structure and enforcement of the industry, and the integration of recreational marijuana with the current medical marijuana environment.
Panelists include government officials and industry leaders from states that have legalized recreational marijuana and medical marijuana:
- Marley Bordovsky, Assistant Director, Prosecution and Code Enforcement, Denver City Attorney’s Office who directs all marijuana issues in the Denver City Attorney’s Office
- Darwin Roberts, Esq., Washington State Deputy Attorney General
- Adam Darnell, PhD, Senior Research Associate for the Washington State Institute on Public Policy and author of I-502 Evaluation Plan and Preliminary Report on Implementation, a benefit-cost analysis of Washington’s legalization of non-medical cannabis
- Todd Mitchum, Coalition for Responsible Cannabis Production
Cosponsors:
Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin
Conference of Western Attorneys General
Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy
Marley Bordovsky: PDF Paper / Marijuana in the Mile High City – The link above will take you to the paper
