The increasing concerns about the safety and security of marijuana distribution in different states just got a lot bigger. Marijuana centers are now supporting a bill that was passed by the lawmen of Rhode Island. The bill states the protection and legalization of marijuana center operations from any federal offense that they may be accused.

Authorities had been raiding distribution outlets and marijuana centers as these sites are said to be in a “drug-dealing operations” as opposed to what the local marijuana advocates and supporters define as a medicinal marijuana cooperative. These actions lead to the halt of center operations and the detainment of the center’s operators. Such centers had been subjected to bust operations, in which the federal agents have been confiscating any explicit documents and materials, such as the drug, that could be used as evidence for prosecution.

The reason: possession, transportation and distribution, among others, is considered as an act of federal offense by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. This law is what the marijuana centers are “violating” according to the authorities. Though laws had been passed to legalize the use of marijuana, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 and the Senate Bill 420 of 2003, these laws do not cover the protection of the marijuana centers.

In light of this event, the state of Rhode Island had proposed a bill, known as the Marijuana Compassion Center Bill, Rhode Island House Bill or HB5359, defines th legality and protection of the establishment of a marijuana center in the state from prosecution and confiscation of the center’s operators and properties. As the bill states that any registered non-profit marijuana centers “may acquire, possess, cultivate, manufacture, deliver, transfer, transport, supply, or dispense marijuana, or related supplies and educational materials, to registered qualifying patients and their registered primary caregivers who have designated it as one of their primary caregivers. ”**

In today’s time, marijuana centers and local dispensaries are cheering on as each state is now allowed to establish their own medical marijuana laws and implement a medicinal marijuana program. This now gives a chance for a state to propose an exemption to the constant raiding of marijuana centers by the authorities. In addition to this, the states that implement the marijuana program are looking into the taxation of the marijuana. Indeed, taxing the distribution of marijuana will benefit any state as it would contribute to their budget.

Even with the passing of the House Bill 5359, the authorities are still adhered to enforce the law regarding the illegality of marijuana. Others may deem that legalizing the drug is something that would be some sort of domino effect that would raise other concerns, such as the increase of drug-trafficking and the drug-related felony in ones locale. Though the government tolerates the excuse of using the drug as a medicine, people should not forget that the law is still implemented and that anyone found in violation of the law. Be it a cardholder or a marijuana center operator, they shall be prosecuted. Let’s just hope these people understand the consequences of their actions.