The bill, which passed the House earlier this month, was approved by a 33 to 1 margin, it will be sent to the governor for approval.
The Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act allows patients, under doctoral supervision, to grow or acquire medical marijuana plants in limited quantities: no more than 12 plants or 2.5 ounces of marijuana.
A state ID card would protect patients from state drug possession laws. Legislators noted the law doesn't legalize recreational use and limits approved possession to patients with a debilitating disease who are currenty under a doctor's care and are registered with the state.
If approved, Rhode Island would become the 11th state in the U.S. to allow medical marijuana use.
