Since June 2021, Rhode Island lawmakers and Governor Daniel McKee, D, have been working together to create a compromise cannabis bill. The Rhode Island Senate passed a recreational cannabis legalization bill near the end of the 2021 regular session. However, the bill stalled in the House as time simply ran out. There had been a chance lawmakers would return for a special session to legalize recreational cannabis. However, one never happened. Lawmakers seemed to opt for behind the scenes negotiations.

Now, Senator Joshua Miller, D, and Representative Scott Slater, D, introduced S 2430/H 7593. This bill looks to legalize the possession and sale of recreational cannabis for adults 21 and over. Inside these complimentary bills, several compromises have been made, leaving lawmakers and activists feeling positive about the upcoming debate.

“The time for Rhode Island to move forward with cannabis legalization is now. This historic shift in public policy will create a vibrant new marketplace in our state and end the failed practice of prohibition, which has caused such harm to so many in our communities,” Senator Miller said. “To help address those past wrongs, and to ensure all Rhode Islanders have the opportunity to share the economic benefits associated with legalization, equity is a central focus of this legislation.”

Cannabis Bill Details

Under S 2430/H 7593, adults 21 and over can possess up to one ounce of recreational cannabis beginning October 1, 2022. Sales should begin the same day. Adults can grow up to six plants in their homes, three of which can be mature. Each household can possess up to 10 ounces of cannabis. 

The recreational market will be regulated by a new hybrid system created under this compromised bill. The Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) would be in charge of the market along with the Cannabis Office. CCC is its own entity, while the Cannabis Office would be under the Department of Business Regulation (DBR). This is where some of the conflict between lawmakers and the governor occurred. Senate members wanted the CCC to control and regulate the market completely on their own. The House and the governor wanted the DBR. 

A total of 33 retail licenses will be evenly divided between six zones statewide. 9 of those licenses will be medical dispensaries who can also sell recreational cannabis if a fee of $125,000. 25 percent of licenses will be for social equity applicants. Another 25 percent will be worker-owned cooperatives. Municipalities will automatically be in the state’s program. They can choose to opt out if they place the question on the November 22 ballot and residents agree. 

Each sale will be subject to the state’s seven percent sales tax as well as a 10 percent excise tax and a three percent local tax.

Responses to Compromise

Lawmakers appear excited about bringing recreational cannabis to the state. 

“It is the right public policy for Rhode Island to make cannabis possession and sales legal. We have been studying legalization proposals here for many years, and we now can look to our neighboring states’ experiences and see that taxing and regulating cannabis makes sense,” Representative Slater said. “I’m especially proud that we have made a very deliberate effort to address social equity through this bill.”

“We have to recognize the harm that prohibition has done to communities, particularly minorities and poor, urban neighborhoods, and ensure that those communities get the support they need to benefit from legalization,” he added.

Others aren’t so excited about some of the compromises. Instead of automatic expungements for nonviolent cannabis crimes, eligible individuals can apply for expungement. It’s unclear at this time who will qualify for expungement. 

“Without an automatic record clearance process, Rhode Island will continue to fail the very communities who bear the brunt of the war on drugs to this day,” Gracie Burger explained. She is the state policy director for the Last Prisoner Project. “To begin to right the wrongs of prohibition and make legalization accessible to all residents, the onus must be on the government to remove these erroneous convictions from peoples’ records, so that they may begin to rebuild their lives.”

Next Steps

The cannabis compromise bill will go through both the House and the Senate at the same time. While this bill is a compromise, it can always change, which leads to more compromise between lawmakers. Rhode Island could be the next state to legalize recreational cannabis through this compromise bill. As more information becomes available, we will update you with the latest. 

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