The state's medical marijuana law was crafted to put a high priority on patient privacy, but that consideration has been placed on the back burner a number of times in recent years in the name of public safety. This year, the General Assembly sought to require the disclosure in real estate transactions if the cultivation of any marijuana had taken place on the premises. Proponents of the legislation state that cultivation of marijuana can have some lasting effects on the building in which the marijuana is grown, but that is true for a great number of behaviors that aren't required to be disclosed. This proposal, however, has the effect of undermining the privacy of medical marijuana patients while also putting them in a double-bind of having to either admit on paper to the growing of marijuana (which is being increasingly cracked down on by the federal government) or be accused of fraud for not disclosing their grows. Despite testimony from the ACLU and real estate professionals, the House and Senate approved the legislation in June.
UPDATE: On July 2, Governor Raimondo vetoed this legislation at the urging of the ACLU of RI and other organizations.
