Marie Teresa Paiva-Weed (born November 5, 1959) is an American attorney and politician who served as President of the Rhode Island Senate.
Paiva-Weed first entered politics in 1992 when she ran for a seat in the 49th District of the Rhode Island Senate, winning 62% of the vote against Republican Ellen M. McDonagh.
The Senate passed legislation in support of the measure, but the House, led by the Speaker, halted the advancement.
Paiva Weed expressed dismay as to the maneuvers of the House Speaker in July, saying "I thought we were both working with the governor".
[10][11] In June 2010, Paiva Weed denied action to revive a voting proposal that then-Governor Carcieri vetoed that would have brought to the coming general election, the question of allowing table games at locations in Rhode Island.
The move[12] was largely seen as an attempt to distance the Senate President from the battle being waged locally in her home district.
[17] In early 2015, Paiva Weed was quoted as being both open-minded and concerned regarding the movement to end cannabis prohibition in the State.
However, I believe that the decision to legalize marijuana should be made in conjunction with law enforcement and our health officials and not be revenue driven".