PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Rhode Island House has postponed to May 20 a vote on a bill to allow licensed dispensaries -- known as "compassion centers" -- to grow and sell marijuana to the estimated 600 patients who currently have the state's blessing to use the drug for medicinal purposes.

The Senate approved the bill last week on a 35-to-2 vote.

A similar bill was passed last year by the House and Senate, but vetoed by Governor Carcieri.

-- With reports from Cynthia Needham and Katherine Gregg of The Journal State House Bureau