Short Fuse

Kudos to the Rhode Island Legislature for transcending the hyperbole surrounding medical marijuana and approving a new law permitting regulated sales of the drug to chronically ill patients. On Tuesday the Legislature overrode Republican Governor Donald Carcieri’s veto of the bill, which he predicted, somewhat breathlessly, would “negatively impact the children of Rhode Island.’’ No, more likely it will offer a small dose of ease to desperately ill people. For many people, the active ingredient in marijuana reduces pain, nausea, and other effects of chemotherapy. Although 13 states allow for possession of medical marijuana, Rhode Island is now the third state in the country to license “compassion centers’’ to sell the drug to registered, qualifying patients.

With summer almost here, what’s become of efforts to reopen the State House’s west lawn, with its tourist-friendly bronze JFK statue, to the public? Last fall, Beacon Hill’s Big Three all supported the idea. “We remain committed,’’ says Patrick spokesman Joe Landolfi. “I think the Legislature shares our eventual goal of opening it up, but there are issues that remain to be resolved.’’ “There has been nothing going on about it,’’ says David Falcone, spokesman for Senate President Therese Murray. “No one has been meeting about it. No one has been talking about it.’’ The JFK statue was paid for by private citizens and dedicated in 1990. But today’s message: Want to see JFK? Best bring your binoculars.