Drug Dealer… Not a Stretch for Rhode Island

I’ve admitted before that I’m more or less ambivalent about the legality of marijuana, but as usual, Rhode Island’s method of operations layers in an unseemly and suspicious twist to the process:

All told, that’s $3.5 million in new tax revenue over two years. The Health Department is expected to announce on Tuesday the names of operators for up to three dispensaries. They will be chosen from a list of 18 applications. …
The future of the state’s caregiver system is unclear. Last month, two bills were introduced in the General Assembly that would require all medicinal marijuana to be grown and sold through dispensaries — a move that would for all intents and purposes end the caregiver program.

To put some totals on this sequence of legislation, the governor is expecting medical marijuana to be a $60 million business in Rhode Island, and the General Assembly may make the law of the land such that all the money filters through three entities hand-picked by the state. That’s an instant $20 million business facilitated by the Department of Health. Looks like another instance of corruption by design, in Rhode Island.
If Rhode Island is to shift this slice of the illegal drug industry into the legal category, it should follow either the pharmacy model (if the pretense of medical benefit is to be maintained) or the liquor store model. Making the State House a den of pot kingpins is not the way to go.
(The applications submitted by the three newly selected dispensaries are linked here. There are no names as blatantly indicative of inside dealings as, say, Bill Lynch’s, but that’s hardly a mitigating factor when the potential for corruption is baked into the legal regime.)

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Patrick
Patrick
13 years ago

“corruption is baked into the legal regime”
HA! Baked!

serena
serena
13 years ago

Family Court is or was conducting divorce’s in the back room chambers! Has this happened to you? Well it did to me, in Decemember of 2009 by the Chief Judge Jeremiah Jr. Case no P2009 0061, Donald Simeone vs. Serena Simeone. At the time I didn’t know what was going on, all I knew was my attorney John Lynch Sr. who got paid $15,000.00 by my mother to get my children and my half of a 7 year marriage to my e-x, rushed me into the back room chambers and conducted an illegal divorce that is supost to be conducted in open court. It was all illegal and all conducted by politician and I’m sure they were all paid off very well. How long has this gone on? Open Court is open for a reason, so this very thing does not happen.My E-X Donald Simeone, his Attorney William Lynch (Attorney General Patrick Lynch’s brother, of course), Guardian Ad Litem Steven A. Colantuono, my Attorney John Lynch Sr. and the Chief Judge Jeremiah Jr. all took part in this illegal divorce, throwing me the stay at home mother of 2 minor children (2 and 5 years old) out of the marital home. My ex Donald Simeone was awarded everything, The house, the cars, the Business; Scott’s Garage, the IRA’S, the timeshares, the boat, the equity in the house, all the additions to the house, the retirement, all the marital assets, and even my personsal assets, HE EVEN GOT THE CHILDREN! He works full time Monday through Saturaday 8am to 6 pm, so my kids are either with the grandparents, babysitter’s or girlfriend! HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN? FAMILY COURT? BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILDREN? I’m the stay at home, waiting for my kids, since my ex wanted a divorce now “i’m crazy”?… Read more »

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