Home » KNOWLEDGE CENTER » State-By-State & Federal Guide » State Programs » Rhode Island

RHODE ISLAND

Rhode Island Program Overview

Programs

Medical (2006) – The Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act
Adult (2022) – Rhode Island Cannabis Act

Dispensaries

Medical

Three (3) medical dispensaries known as “Compassion Centers”:
- Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center – Providence, RI
- Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center – Portsmouth, RI
- Summit Medical Compassion Center – Warwick, RI
Five (5) additional compassion centers were added to Rhode Island’s medical marijuana program on October 29, 2021: Winning Compassion Center Applications.
There are differences between registered caregivers and authorized purchasers as outlined in this FAQ:
- “A caregiver can grow their own marijuana or buy marijuana from a compassion center, and may have up to five patients. An authorized purchaser can only buy marijuana at a compassion center and may only have one patient.”

Adult

The state has yet to publish their regulations – ETA September 2022
Sales may begin as early as December 2022

Geography

Massachusetts – Medical and Adult Use
Connecticut – Medical and Adult Use

Regulatory Agencies

State of Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation – Office of Cannabis Regulation

Adult Program Details

NOTE: Official regulations have yet to be issued, but here is some high level program information from the statute:
License Types
- Cultivator
- Manufacturer
- Retailer
- Hybrid Retailer
- Laboratories-Testing
- Laboratories-Research
- Transporters
- Employees
Licensing Structure (as outlined in the statute)
- No more than four (4) retail licenses exclusive of any hybrid cannabis retail certificate shall be permitted in each geographic zone; and
- Of the four (4) retail licenses in each geographic zone:
  - One shall be reserved for a workers’ cooperative applicant; and
  - One shall be reserved for a social equity applicant.
- In addition to the hybrid cannabis retailer certificates that may be issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, after issuance of the final rules and regulations, the commission may grant twenty-four (24) retail licenses, subject to the following restrictions:
  - No more than four (4) retail licenses exclusive of any hybrid cannabis retail certificate shall be permitted in each geographic zone; and
  - Of the four (4) retail licenses in each geographic zone:
    - One shall be reserved for a workers’ cooperative applicant; and
    - One shall be reserved for a social equity applicant.
Licensing Restrictions
- Municipalities will be able to prohibit adult licensees from operating in their city or town
- Municipalities will be able to place specific restrictions on adult use cannabis business operations
Possession Limits
- Anyone 21 years of age or older is allowed to be in possession of:
  - One ounce or less of cannabis, no more than 5 grams of which can be in the form of concentrate on their person
  - 10 ounces of cannabis, 3 mature cannabis plants, and 3 immature cannabis plants in their home
- NOTE: the regulations may impose limitations on the amount a person can purchase at any one time

Rhode Island has released information about the new hybrid licensing rules for the first round of adult.

Preliminary Guidance for Hybrid Cultivation and Retail Sales

July 15, 2022

Rhode Island Banking Stats & Guidance (April 28, 2022)

Financial Institutions

Banks: 22
Credit Unions: 18

Medical Program Details (April 28, 2022)

Patients may purchase up to two and one-half (2.5) ounces of dried marijuana or 125 THC single serving units every fifteen (15) days.
- Qualified patients may grow up to twelve (12) mature and twelve (12) immature marijuana plants that are accompanied with valid medical marijuana plant tags.
Licensed caregivers may possess for each patient no more than:
- Twelve (12) mature and twelve (12) immature marijuana plants that are accompanied by valid medical marijuana plant tag certificates purchased from the DBR.
- Two and one-half (2.5) ounces of dried marijuana or 125 THC single serving units.
- A combination that does not exceed the usable marijuana limit of two and one-half (2.5) ounces or 125 THC single serving units.
No primary caregiver is allowed to posses an amount of marijuana in excess of twenty-four (24) mature and twenty-four (24) immature marijuana plants, five (5) ounces of dried marijuana or 415 THC single serving units, or a combination that does not exceed the usable marijuana limit of five (5) ounces or 415 THC single serving units.
A primary caregiver must be at least 21 years of age, a resident of Rhode Island, and can assist no more than five (5) patients. Patients are limited to one (1) caregiver.