PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (AP) -- Rhode Island on Tuesday became the 11th state to legalize medical marijuana and the first since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that patients who use the drug can still be prosecuted under federal law.

The House overrode a veto by Gov. Don Carcieri, 59-13, allowing people with illnesses such as cancer and AIDS to grow up to 12 marijuana plants or buy 2.5 ounces of marijuana to relieve their symptoms. Those who do are required to register with the state and get an identification card.

Federal law prohibits any use of marijuana. However, Maine, Vermont, Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington allow it to be grown and used for medicinal purposes.

The U.S. high court ruled June 6 that people who smoke marijuana because their doctors recommend it can still be prosecuted under federal drug laws, even if their states allow it. (Full story)

Federal authorities, however, have conceded they are unlikely to prosecute many medicinal marijuana users.

"I'm sure everybody in this room knows at least one person who would have benefited from medical marijuana," Rhode Island state Rep. Thomas Slater, who has cancer, told fellow lawmakers before the vote. Slater said he doesn't use marijuana now but that it could become part of his treatment in the future.

Carcieri, unhappy with the override, said the law fails to provide ways for users to buy marijuana legally and leaves Rhode Islanders open to federal prosecution.

"Users will be forced to purchase marijuana in the illegal street market, putting them at risk and complicating the difficult jobs that our law enforcement personnel must do every day," the governor said.

Tom Riley, a spokesman for the Office of National Drug Control Policy in Washington, said the vote showed "misguided and out-of-touch" views on the harms of marijuana.

"There's this notion from the '60s or the '70s that marijuana is a harmless drug," Riley said. "It's not."

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Too bad the Governor of my state is a federal pawn.

I think Riley should be held down and given a gas mask for a few hours. I don't see what people that have cancer or AIDS, being able to get something that will help their symptoms, has to do with this guy's last statement. I think it is he who is misguided and out of touch. Just more government written scare tactics!!

But for the people that needed this law, Tree cheers!!!!!! I mean, three cheers!!!!!

The High Court just needs to live up to their name and marijuana would be legal for everyone!

It ain't vitamins but it sure isn't alcohol!

This is great, another victory! I love how the governor said that this forces people who want to use medicinal marijuana to buy illegally on the streets and complicate the jobs of law enforcement. What a bunch of BS. You can grow up to 12 plants..so how does that force people to buy it on the street? If you actually buy your marijuana "on the street", there's something seriously wrong with you. Do you buy your trees on a street corner?

His last quote is wonderful. "There's this notion from the 60s and 70s that marijuana is a harmless drug. It's not."

Well, that is just a great argument. It is the fault of two decades of time that marijuana is considered a harmless drug. Or is it because it is harmless and people have been saying that for two decades and now everyone else is understanding that. I wonder if this guy drinks. There's no comparison in my mind between the harmful effects of alcohol and the harmful effects of marijuana, if there are any.