990WBOB
  • WBOB Radio
  • Crush Cancer
  • Past Casts
  • Weather
  • Contact
  • About
    • WBOB Press Releases
    • Join Our Team!
    • CHARITY GALA

Senator Ruggerio Introduces Bill to Regulate 'Vape Lounges'

3/11/2015

Comments

 
Picture
Individuals who hold medical marijuana cards may be suffering from serious illnesses, but that doesn’t make them anti-social.

Already one “lounge” for medical marijuana card carriers has opened in Providence, and with states continuing to relax laws regarding marijuana use and new methods of imbibing (other than smoking) becoming available, the potential exists for more “vape lounges” to spring up.
These establishments are not currently regulated by state law but will be, if Senate Majority Leader Dominick J. Ruggerio’s legislation is enacted. The bill, 2015-S 0441, will establish registration procedures for vaping lounges and will set minimum oversight, reporting and safety requirements for their operation.

“As we become more lenient in our approach to the use of marijuana, especially our actions to make the substance available to individuals for its medicinal purposes, we need to remain committed to protecting the health and welfare of all of our citizens,” said Majority Leader Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, Providence, North Providence). “The bill I’ve introduced adds definitions and regulations to state law to ensure that any vaping lounges that seek to operate in our state are doing so appropriately and safely.”

The Ruggerio bill defines a marijuana vaping lounge as “a gathering place for medical marijuana cardholders that transfers, supplies and/or sells devices that may be used in the delivery of marijuana to a person inhaling from the device.” Vaping devices include electric pipes or hookahs or any related electronic delivery system (similar to e-cigarettes that deliver nicotine electronically and without an open flame).

Vaping, whether the substance is tobacco or marijuana, is becoming increasingly popular, both for health reasons and because it does not violate the state’s indoor smoking ban (it’s not smoking if there is no open flame or combustion).

The Ruggerio legislation requires vaping lounges to register with the Department of Health, which is given the authority to establish the form and content of the registration and renewal application; set minimum oversight, record-keeping and security requirements for the lounges, and establish procedures for suspending, revoking or terminating the registration.

Under the legislation, only medical marijuana cardholders may become members and/or utilize the products and services providing by vaping lounges, which will be restricted to individuals over the age of 18 and will be prohibited from acquiring, possessing, cultivating, manufacturing, delivering, transferring, supplying or dispensing marijuana for any purpose.

Vaping lounges violating the license/regulation requirements face a $250 fine for a first violation, which increases to $500 for a second violation and $1,000 for a third or subsequent violation.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary. Co-sponsors include Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence), Sen. Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence), Sen. Gayle L. Goldin (D-Dist. 3, Providence) and Sen. Paul V. Jabour (D-Dist. 5, Providence).
Comments

    WBOB
    Original
    ​Reads

    Picture

    Unbiased, Unfiltered. WBOB's Original Reads feature our brightest and boldest personalities, offering their two-cents on the goings on of news, sports, politics, entertainment, and business. -- Are our opinions always PC? Nope. Are they always perfect? Nah. But, are they always 100% authentic? Absolutely!


    LISTEN
    ​TO WBOB ORIGINAL PODCASTS

    Picture
    Listen to
    ​Past BOBCasts

    WBOB 
    Best Reads
    Brought To You By
    TripAdvisor.com

    Picture

    Celebrating David Clyde: A Wild Passionate Friend To All


    Picture

    Search 
    The Archives


    Reads From Our Friends

    Picture

    The Best Game Development Tools: How to Make Your Own Game


    Contact Us
    [email protected]


    Archives

    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

Search For Your Favorite WBOB Author,
​or BobCast

990WBOB 
An Independent Media Outlet.

The views opinions and thoughts expressed do not  reflect those of 990WBOB, its management or its staff. All Rights Reserved 990WBOB.com 2007-2020
​
Contact WBOB HERE
Photo from nzhamstar
  • WBOB Radio
  • Crush Cancer
  • Past Casts
  • Weather
  • Contact
  • About
    • WBOB Press Releases
    • Join Our Team!
    • CHARITY GALA