Rhode Island lawmakers have yet to confirm whether or not they will be reconvening for a special session. There, they would discuss recreational cannabis legalization for adults 21 and over. But since no word has been made yet, activists are starting to put more pressure on lawmakers to do so. 

One activist group, Reclaim Rhode Island, held a press conference in front of the State House on September 8 to rally for change. At the conference, the activist group, joined with others, announced their list of essential provisions needed in the legalization bill. 

Called the Marijuana Justice Statement, it includes provision on:

• Automatic record expungement
• 50 percent business licenses set aside for social equity applications
• 25 percent businesses licenses for worker-owned co-ops
• Unionization for cannabis workers

Lawmaker Response

Lawmakers from the House, Senate, and the governor’s office are trying to work together to make a detailed and concise bill to present during a special session. At the present time, 15 lawmakers have signed the Reclaim Rhode Island Marijuana Justice Statement. Representative Leonela Felix, D, is one of the signed lawmakers. She spoke at the event on September 8, stressing social justice measures.

“If we chose to legalize cannabis in Rhode Island without full restorative justice for the black, brown and low-income Rhode Islanders who are targeted and imprisoned because of the racist war on drug policy, we have failed,” the representative said. 

Representative Karen Alzate, D, also spoke at Reclaim Rhode Island’s event. She currently sits as the chair of the Rhode Island Legislative Black and Latino Caucus. “We can’t reverse the harm of the war on drugs, but we can start to repair it by passing automatic expungement and waiving all related fines, fees and court debt,” she said. “This bold legalization plan offers us the chance to turn a new leaf for the Ocean State, and it’s time we take it.”

Future

There’s still a chance for a special session this fall, but the predictions are falling. Representative Felix believes there’s a 70 percent chance a special session won’t happen. But with lawmakers working together with activists, cannabis legalization could become a priority in January when the next legislative session begins. Then Rhode Island may see recreational cannabis legalized sometime next year. As more information becomes available, we will update you with the latest. 

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