Jesse Coppa

March 7, 2011
WRT 3Oh3
Freddy Dobeor
Compassion Center Speech

Greetings all! My name is Jesse Coppa and today I am going to talk to you about

medical marijuana and more specifically why the emergence of dispensaries in Rhode Island will

benefit the state. First, however, it is necessary to look at a brief history of medical cannabis.

Evidence of Cannabis smoke can be found as far back as the 3rd millennium B.C.

Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes since the Chinese emperor Sheng Neng in 2737

BC. He was prescribing tea for treatment of gout and malaria. Pharmaceutical companies in the

United States sold and manufactured Cannabis from the 1880s to the 1930s, when it was deemed

illegal. It has been proven to treat symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, stimulation of hunger in

chemotherapy and AIDS patients, lower intraocular eye pressure in glaucoma, muscle relaxation

in MS patients etc. Medical Marijuana doesn’t have to be smoked either to get the desired

effects. Pharmaceutical companies make THC pills for those who would rather pop a pill than

smoke a joint (Amar 1).

There are currently 15 states, as well as Washington DC, which have enacted laws to

legalize medical marijuana: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Washington DC, Hawaii,

Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont

and Washington State (ProCon).

Although Medical Marijuana is legal in Rhode Island, many patients are skeptical due to

the current process to acquire it. Patients are forced to either grow their own plants, get it from a
licensed grower or acquire it illegally. The opening of dispensaries, called Compassion Centers,

in Rhode Island will give patients an easy and legal way to get their medicine. Patients will

simply be able to walk into a center, present a licensed card and receive their medicine, just like

in a pharmacy.

By opening these Compassion Centers, more patients will be inclined to buy Medical

Marijuana to treat their illnesses. For example, in 2009 Montana had 7,000 patients. Today they

have more than 27,000 patients. Montana also only has 975,000 residents, 75,000 less than

Rhode Island. Since 2006 when medical Cannabis became legal in R.I., 3,000 patients have been

licensed to use it. As patients and doctors become more comfortable with using and acquiring

medical Cannabis, more will be inclined to use. With the increase of patients, more revenue will

be generated so Compassion Centers will soon be a necessity (ProCon).

Compassion centers will also advertise and raise awareness about the dispensaries to

increase patients. The Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center proposal plans a $3700 a month

advertising campaign in the Projo, RI Monthly, The Providence Phoenix, cable and radio

programs (Boardman 1). This mass advertising campaign has the potential to skyrocket sales.

A fact not well known about these Compassion Centers is that they will be non-profit

organizations. Although there is taxation potential on the product, non-profit organizations

cannot be taxed. The state is, however, considering licensing fees, which would generate

revenue back to the state. All of the proposals for these centers promise that any cash left over

after expenses will go back into growing the business in one way or another. Some of these

possibilities are going to research to make more effective medicine, reducing the products cost,

going to charity and also back to the state. Many of the proposals also have a commitment to

return revenue money back to the community (Boardman 1). This non-profit organization model
shows how much people in the Rhode Island community believe in the medicinal qualities of the

drug.

All the centers are also advocating for a “strong” partnership with state regulations as

well as the community. Many of the applicants are proposing patient oriented plans

strengthening the strong community vibe. Compassion RI, for example, plans to offer subsidies

for those who cannot afford and a shuttle service for patients in need of transportation to and

from the dispensary (Compassion RI 1).

Although these Compassion Centers will be non-profit organizations, the economic

benefits of them are undeniable. First off, all the dispensaries will be regulated by the state. The

state will have the ability to increase or decrease licensing fees and set any sort of regulation they

want. Also, all applicants’ centers believe that profits in the first year will be in the millions.

Ocean State Compassion partner Attorney John Verdecchia even claims that by the 3rd year, the

estimated revenue will be $30 million (Marcelo 1).

While economically beneficial to the state, these Compassion Centers will provide

something even more important and needed in the State of Rhode Island: Jobs. It is no secret

that Rhode Island’s struggling economy has been crippled by the lack of availability of jobs.

Opening compassion centers would give many needed jobs to people. By the 3rd year, applicants

predict that the centers will increase from 8 to 80 workers. People will be needed as cashiers,

farmers, custodial positions, security, shuttle operation, everyday business etc. the list goes on

and on. As the number of patients increase, more compassion centers will be accepted and thus

more jobs will become available.

Rhode Island is on the verge of building dispensaries yet the organizations have been met

with much opposition, not only politically but in the community. Many people opposing these
compassion centers claim that with the dispensaries in place, crime waves will flood Rhode

Island. Although it is impossible to make a fair judgment about this as no centers have been

established yet, opening up dispensaries is not like opening a casino: there won’t be a sudden

influx of prostitutes and coke dealers on the street corners of suburban neighborhoods. If

anything, crime from the dispensaries will most likely be robbery of the product in the building.

Although it is the hope that people of the community won’t act like this, if it does become a

problem more security will be needed. More security equals more jobs.

The jobs created will also pay well, right at the average RI salary. The highest paid

salary in any of the applications is $125,000. As this is a rather generous estimate, most

applicants predict salaries capping around $50,000 to $60,000 (Boardman 1).

Other oppositions claim that the introduction of legal cannabis to the community will

result in users stricken by addiction and even death. Tetrahydrocannabinol, THC the

psychoactive substance in Cannabis, has zero addictive qualities, unlike cigarettes. And

regarding death, how many people do you think die a year from Marijuana? The answer is none.

There are o documented cases which cite marijuana as the cause of death (Amar 1).

The support behind this movement is so great that famous Rhode Island public figures

have gotten involved with the applicants. This includes former 1st District Candidate and State

Democratic Party Chairman William Lynch, Attorney John Verdecchia, former URI Basketball

star Cuttino Mobley and Retired Pawtucket Police Chief George Kelley. One of the centers,

Compassion RI, is even run by Brown Alumni (Marcelo 1).

There are currently 18 applicants up for approval by the state in the coming few weeks.

The Health Department is set to select from one to three proposals for dispensaries.

Unfortunately, there is still the possibility that all applicants could be rejected, which is where
you come in. The Compassion Centers have petitions online as well as at their headquarters

which by signing shows support of the establishment of these facilities. By showing support

simply by signing your name, the state will realize how strongly the R.I community feels about

medical marijuana. The plant has been proven time and time again to be effective in treating

dozens of illnesses so why let unfortunate patients suffer? Sign a petition, write a letter or make

a phone call to any of these centers and be part of the change Rhode Island desperately needs. In

1937, Marijuana was deemed illegal in the United States. In 2006, Rhode Island passed a bill

allowing the sale of Medical Marijuana. In 2010, applicants were unfairly denied the

establishment of dispensaries. Help 2011 be the year the Rhode Island community stands up for

the hundreds of suffering patients. Make 2011 be the year of change in Rhode Island. Show

your support. Thank you.

 Works Cited

Amar, Mohamed B. "Cannabinoids in Medicine: A Review of Their Therapeutic

Potential."Doctordeluca.com. Journal of Ethno-Pharmacology. 03 Mar. 2011.

Boardman, Liz. "Local Men Seek License for Pot Center." South County Independent. Web. 03
Mar. 2011. <http://www.scindependent.com/articles/2011/>.

"Compassion RI." Chronic Pain Management Centers of Rhode Island. Web. 03 Mar. 2011.
<http://compassionri.com>.

Marcelo, Philip. "Familiar Names on RI Marijuana-dispensary Applications - Projo 7 to 7 News

Blog | Rhode Island News | The Providence Journal." Projo 7 to 7 News Blog | Rhode
Island News | The Providence Journal. 09 Feb. 2011. Web. 03 Mar. 2011.
<http://newsblog.projo.com/2011/02/familiar-names-on-ri-marijuana.html>.

ProCon.org. "15 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC - Medical Marijuana

ProCon.org."Medical Marijuana ProCon.org. Web. 03 Mar. 2011.
<http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881>.