AG asked medical marijuana sellers to not advertise

Posted 3/13/14

Upon receiving an email from the state-licensed Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center promoting a sale on a certain type of marijuana product asking the question, “Tired of the Winter Blues?,” …

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AG asked medical marijuana sellers to not advertise

Posted

Upon receiving an email from the state-licensed Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center promoting a sale on a certain type of marijuana product asking the question, “Tired of the Winter Blues?,” Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin and the Ocean State Prevention Alliance called for an end of promotional marketing and advertising of marijuana by compassion centers.

“Traditional pharmacies are prohibited from offering discounts on scheduled drugs that have medicinal purposes. Can you imagine the public outcry if the local pharmacy started offering ‘Half-off Oxycontin’ or other medicinal drugs? Compassion centers should be held to the same standard and should be prohibited from offering discounts or sales on medicinal marijuana,” said Attorney General Kilmartin.  “I support the use of medical marijuana for its intended purposes. I support that medical marijuana be distributed through properly licensed and regulated facilities, but this type of advertising flies in the face of the intent and spirit of the law to provide medical relief.” 

Under the Medical Marijuana Act, Compassion Centers are primary caregivers who are registered to assist registered patients to alleviate their debilitating condition or symptoms. 

“We are in the Top Five states for teen marijuana use. This kind of advertising clearly promotes the false perception that marijuana is a harmless recreation drug that can be used to cure the winter blues and, thereby, it increases the likelihood that yet another R.I. youth will think it’s OK to try it ‘just once,’” Kilmartin said. 

Advertising of this nature is not regulated and it does not draw the necessary distinction between medical and non-medical use and flies in the face of the intent of this law that was enacted to provide compassion, according to Kilmartin. 

This is not the first time the Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center offered discounts or free marijuana products through advertising. According to Kilmartin’s office, as part of its “12 Days of Christmas” promotion, the Center offered free Rice Krispie treats with a purchase and a “buy an eighth and get a second eighth at half price” promotion.

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