Gov. vetoes 22 bills, including those on marijuana

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Gov. Don Carcieri has vetoed 22 bills, including those dealing with releasing public records, distributing medical marijuana and expunging criminal records.

The Republican governor vetoed the bills Wednesday and sent them back to the Democratic-dominated General Assembly.

One bill would have required government offices to release records faster and made police release basic information about arrests within 24 hours. The governor says some of that information could compromise public safety.

Another would have made it easier for residents to get their criminal records destroyed. Carcieri says the state already has among the most liberal expungement rules in the nation.

He vetoed another bill that would have created a commission to recommend a way to distribute medical marijuana to patients.