In May 2022, Rhode Island lawmakers voted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in Rhode Island. Given the change in the legal status of marijuana, many are left wondering what this means for previous marijuana crimes still appearing on their criminal records. The experienced Rhode Island expungement lawyers at Abilheira Law are here to help navigate the new...
Continue ReadingThe following content was updated in May 2022. Marijuana laws are constantly changing on both the State and Federal level, making it difficult for individuals to keep up. In today’s blog, the Rhode Island criminal defense attorneys at Abilheira Law explain the status of Rhode Island’s marijuana laws, with an update after the passage of the 2022 Rhode Island...
Continue ReadingIn July 2018, Rhode Island lawmakers passed “Kristen’s Law.” This law, created by 2018-H 7715Aaa and 2018-S 2279B, is aptly named for Kristen Coutu, a twenty-nine-year-old Cranston woman who passed away in 2014 after taking a fatal dose of fentanyl, that she thought was heroin. What is Kristen’s Law? Kristen’s Law is codified in Rhode Island General Law §11-23-7 and...
Continue ReadingRhode Island State Attorney General Peter Neronha recently announced new legislation that, if passed, will reclassify simple drug possession for personal use as a misdemeanor. The bill is being introduced in the State Senate by Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey (Democrat, District 29, Warwick). If Passed, What Changes Will This Bill Bring to Rhode Island? Currently, under Rhode Island General Laws...
Continue ReadingOn November 8, 2016, Massachusetts residents voted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. The criminal defense attorneys at Abilheira Law have analyzed this new marijuana law to tell you what is legal, what is illegal, and what issues remain unanswered. What is legal? Massachusetts law will allow anyone over the age of twenty-one (21) to: Possess up to...
Continue ReadingToday the House Judiciary Committee met at the Rhode Island State House to consider 10 new marijuana-related bills. Some of the bills aim to legalize marijuana for medical use while others aim to legalize it for recreational use. Included in the group of bills are: A change to legalize recreational use of marijuana for those over the age of...
Continue ReadingOn February 29th city and state officials made the announcement that over 30 arrests had been made as part of “Operation Zero Tolerance,” a sting targeting endemic violence related to the drug trade. Over the course of ten months, Woonsocket Police and DEA agents seized approximately 25 grams of heroin, five grams of fentanyl, over 350 grams of cocaine,...
Continue ReadingDid you know that drug overdoses are the leading cause of death in Rhode Island? In 2014, overdose deaths in Rhode Island reached near crisis levels, with a startling 232 people dying from apparent overdoses. Of those overdose deaths, nearly 90% involved at least one opioid drug and/or opioid medication. Unfortunately, Rhode Island’s overdose problem did not improve much...
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