RI Bill By Rep. Serpa Would Allow Medical Marijuana For Pets

PROVIDENCE, RI — Should Fido or Fluffy have access to medical marijuana in Rhode Island?

The House Committee on State Government and Elections heard a slew of bills related to cannabis on Monday, and one of them would make domestic pets eligible for medical pot with a prescription from a veterinarian.

"Some people might scoff at this bill, but those of us who have pets, or have had pets, know that many of us think of them as members of our extended family," said West Warwick Democrat Rep. Pat Serpa, who sponsored House Bill 5190. "And we will go to great lengths to provide them comfort and well-being, either for a chronic condition or an end-of-life condition."

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The bill would expand "authorized purchasers" of medical marijuana to include any person assisting a domestic pet under the care of a licensed veterinarian. It would amend the list of conditions approved for medical marijuana use to include "any condition suffered by a domestic pet that would be a 'debilitating medical condition' if it were suffered by a person."

Dr. Ralph Pratt, a veterinarian at West Greenwich Animal Hospital, called in to register his opposition. Pratt is on the board of directors of the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association. He said the House bill and a companion measure in the Senate "came as a complete surprise," and that the association does not support giving cannabis to pets.

"Rather than relieving animal suffering, this bill is likely to increase animal suffering," he said.

Pratt said that THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, is considered toxic and has no clinical indication for pets. He said many substances that are safe for humans are metabolized differently in animals. For instance, if a cat is given acetaminophen, it can lead to "multiple organ failure and a slow painful death," he said.

Pratt said there are no studies that show THC is effective in relieving pain in cats and dogs, because THC is toxic for such pets. The door does remain open for CBD, the non-active component in marijuana, he remarked.

The veterinary association submitted a letter to the committee that registered strong opposition to the bill. “Emergency hospitals report seeing as many as 10 cases of marijuana
intoxication daily in pets. While most are mild, some require hospitalization, and it is possible for them to result in death,” the letter said.

Pratt said in small doses, pets can experience stumbling and agitation, and that larger doses could potentially lead to comas, seizures, or even death.

The bill's primary advocate, Susan Richardson of Newport, called in to testify on what she called "progressive legislation." Richardson said she has an undergraduate degree in biochemistry and used to be employed by Pfizer where she did animal-related work. She said she now runs her own animal care business and is a medical marijuana patient herself.

Richardson said Rhode Island medical marijuana is "tested, safe, and high-quality." She opined that veterinarians currently do not recommend medical marijuana for pets because of "lack of familiarity with how it works and the legal landscape surrounding it." However, she did not address Pratt's testimony that THC is actually harmful to cats and dogs.

The bill would not require veterinarians to prescribe marijuana, but would allow them to.