Home Political News Rhode Island Lawmakers Make Proposed Legalization Bills Public

Rhode Island Lawmakers Make Proposed Legalization Bills Public

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Rhode Island Lawmakers Make Proposed Legalization Bills Public

Senator Josh Miller, D, and Representative Scott Slater, D, of Rhode Island introduced identical marijuana legalization bills to the Senate and House. This follows negotiation between legislators and Governor Dan McKee, D, who proposed a legalization measure in his last budget proposal. These bills both follow several legalization attempts from last year.

The Governor’s Proposal

The Governor’s proposal would have had several differences. The new amendments to RICA were largely attempts at compromise. Gov. McKee’s proposal did not allow for any personal cultivation of marijuana plants. The proposal also would have given regulation privileges exclusively to the Department of Business. 

The Marijuana Legalization Bills

Lawmakers initially proposed the Rhode Island Cannabis Act (RICA) in March of 2022. This bill would allow people 21 and older to purchase and possess up to one ounce of marijuana at one time. It would also allow legal individuals to store up to 10 ounces of weed in any given household. Finally, the bill would make it legal to grow up to six marijuana plants for personal use. However, only three plants can be mature at one time. RICA would also decriminalize possessing up to two ounces for adults 18 and older. 

This new version of the bill has a few key provisions. One said provision states the new Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) and the current Cannabis Office under the Department of Business Regulation (DBR) would regulate the market. 

“I’m proud that everyone involved—the advocates, the existing industry, patients, legislative leaders and the governor’s office—worked very cooperatively to smooth out the bumps and create a proposal that works for all the stakeholders,” Senator Miller said in a press release. “We all wanted to do this in a way that is safe, keeps revenue in Rhode Island, and is as fair and equitable as we can possibly make it.”

Next Steps

Committees in both the House and the Senate s vote on these proposed legalization bills on May 18, 2022. Assuming the bill makes it through committee, the floor will vote on May 24, 2022. If passed, the bill moves to the Governor for his signature. Following his potential signature, the revised version of RICA would take effect on October 22, 2022. 

“The amended bill is a collaborative effort to address concerns about protecting medical use, ensuring fair governance and recognizing that we cannot make this transition without taking action to make whole the communities and individuals who have been punished for decades under prohibition,”  Senator Miller said in the same press release.

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