Rhode Island may be peer pressured into legalizing marijuana by Neighbors says, Governor

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) has taken a cautious approach to the concept of legalizing marijuana throughout the past several decades, but the ending of prohibition in neighboring countries might efficiently peer pressure into the Ocean State into linking in, she signaled in a fresh interview.

“Given my druthers, if I could create every one these choices in a vacuum, then I have been favoring a wait-and-see strategy,” she told the Providence Journal. “But, Connecticut will do it. The brand new governor-elect continues to be crystal clear, this can be a priority. It is happening. Massachusetts is currently doing this. We are a very small state in between both other nations.”

Connecticut Gov.-elect Ned Lamont (D) said soon following his eponymous election victory last month which end cannabis prohibition is”likely to be among those priorities” from the nation’s forthcoming legislative session. “It is something I’d encourage, and I really don’t need the black economy controlling marijuana supply in our nation,” he explained.

Legal recreational cannabis sales started last month in Massachusetts, where voters approved a legalization ballot step in 2016.

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Throughout a debate a month before her reelection as governor, Raimondo reported that she’s”receptive to” legalization but is”careful” about it, expressing concern that it’s”difficult to govern so it does not get into the hands of children.”

Now, however, the Rhode Island governor appears to be indicating that the nation could face costs and consequences if it does not move together with its neighbors to legalize marijuana and accumulate tax revenue from earnings.

“If you look at countries next door to Colorado… they invest a good deal of cash about the externalities,” Raimondo stated from the interview. “Like, should we believe there is not likely to become Rhode Islanders crossing the boundary into Seekonk or, you understand, Putnam, Connecticut, we’re crazy.”