Via the Marijuana Policy Project: Rhode Island today becomes the second state in the country to allow the regulated sale of medical marijuana. The law allows three state-regulated and licensed compassion centers to dispense pot to those with medical needs:

In landslide votes of 68-0 and 35-3, the Rhode Island General Assembly today overrode Gov. Donald Carcieri's veto of legislation to allow the licensed, regulated sale of marijuana to seriously ill patients. Rhode Island will now become only the second state (after New Mexico) to license and regulate medical marijuana dispensing.

The new law is now in effect. In 2006, Rhode Island passed a law authorizing the the use of medical marijuana. While patients were permitted to grow their own pot or designate a caregiver to grow it for them, many were not able to obtain it. More on Rhode Island's laws here.