FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (April 6, 2015)Medical Cannabis Patients, Families and Supporters to Protest at Rhode Island State House on Wednesday, April 8th to Oppose Misguided Senate Bill 0791, which will Destroy the Caregiver Program and Put Patients in Direct Danger. Providence, RI, On April 1, 2015 Senate Bill 0791 was introduced in the Rhode Island Legislature. This bill, simply entitled Medical Marijuana Act, is a bought and paid for attempt to overturn the States medical cannabis caregiver program, and force patients to access their medicine through often cost prohibitive and limited Compassion Centers. The Act also establishes two new for-profit business entities that would be licensed to cultivate for-profit cannabis for the Compassion Centers, to replace the medicine once provided by the Caregiver program. Senate Bill 0791 is two steps back in what has proven to be one of the most successful cannabis programs in the nation. The program is working well.Eliminating the caregiver program will force patients to access their medicines through Compassion Centers, putting unnecessary pressure on the centers, which do not have the ability to cultivate medicines that are specific to all conditions and needs. The results will be disastrous for often immobile patients who rely on their caregivers to provide them medicine, as it will terminate their caregiver relationships and patient gardens immediately. It will force many patients back into the black market and increase public safety risks across the state by pushing our caregivers back into the shadows.Recent enforcement actions aimed at caregivers throughout the state have been overzealous and unnecessary in order to drum up media that portrays caregivers in a negative light. The truth is that on any given day thousands of patients access safe, clean, and strain specific medicines from their caregivers with very little issue. It is unclear what problem S 0791 is attempting to solve, as there is no evidence of the current program of caregivers and centers creating an abnormal amount of cause for concern in our communities. The Act is clearly a power grab orchestrated by money hungry interests who hope to monopolize the cannabis market, and force patients to pay inflated prices through limited sources and supply. The lobbyists behind this bill have no experience in dealing with cannabis patients and their many unique needs for care. This bill was created and funded by corrupt business interests.S 0791 will also have a negative economic impact across the State, as caregivers support many local businesses to outfit and supply their facilities, including garden stores, carpenters, electricians, and auxiliary businesses that serve the cannabis community. The positive economic impact of caregivers far outweighs tax revenue projection, not to mention potential litigation by patents denied their medicine and who are put in harms way. S 0791 will do very little to help citizens and medical cannabis patients in RI, and will cause a great deal of harm. On April 8th we will organize a protest at the State House to let our collective opposition be heard by lawmakers as they consider this bill. What: Protest for Hope: A Direct Action demanding the State of Rhode Island put Patients before Politics. When: Wednesday, April 8,, 2015: 11:00 a.m.- Protest Rally 11:30 a.m.- Press Conference (Community Leaders, Physicians, Patients and Families to speak out)Where: Rhode Island State house 82 Smith St, Providence, RI 02903Why: To protest recent unnecessary enforcement and Senate Bill 0791. To raise our voice in opposition to the for profit takeover of the cannabis industry by well-financed lobbyists that seek to destroy the States successful caregiver program and force patients to access their medicine through limited and cost prohibitive sources. Contact: Shaun Finnemore (401) 241-1940 | Shaunf79@gmail.com