McKee to Sign Legislation to Legalize Recreational Cannabis on Wednesday—33 Stores Coming to RI
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
On Wednesday, Governor Dan McKee will host a bill signing ceremony to sign legislation that will legalize recreational cannabis use in Rhode Island.
The ceremony will be held on the South Lawn of the State House.
Once signed, the law will allow for neighborhood shops -- and there will be 33 spread around the state.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe legislation was pushed through the legislature by Senate President Dominick Ruggerio and House Speaker Joe Shekarchi.
By a margin of 55-16 vote in the House of Representatives and a 32-6 vote in the Senate, the legislation passed.
This legislation has been the focal point of legislative battles for the past decade.
Some of the specifics of the new law include:
The legislation decriminalizes the sale and possession of up to 1 ounce of cannabis for those age 21 and up, with no more than 10 ounces for personal use kept in a primary residence. It would also allow Rhode Islanders to grow a small amount of their own cannabis at home.
The legislation establishes a 10% state cannabis excise tax that will be imposed in addition to the 7% sales tax, plus a 3% local tax for the municipality where the sale takes place.
The legislation will provide for automatic expungement by July 1, 2024, of any prior civil violation, misdemeanor or felony conviction for possession of cannabis that would be decriminalized by the bill, without requiring affected individuals to file a request, pay a fee or have a hearing. It also provides an expedited process by request for those who wish to have their record expunged earlier.
The bill allows a total of 33 licensed cannabis retailers statewide, including the nine approved compassion centers that could become hybrid medical/recreational retailers, distributed in six zones.
The bill aims to reduce barriers to participation for those communities that have long been disproportionately affected by cannabis prohibition. The proposal uses licensing fees and penalties to fund technical assistance and grants to applicants and communities that have been impacted, and reserves one license in each of the six districts for a social equity licensee and another in each district for a co-op.
Last Minute Law Enforcement Issues Ignored
On Tuesday, the Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association (RIPCA) announced it wants to draw attention to what it says are "several public health and safety holes in the legislation that, as drafted could result in immediate detrimental effects for Rhode Islanders if they are not responsibly and adequately addressed," as legalized, commercial cannabis legislation moves through the General Assembly.
“The regulation of commercial marijuana in Rhode Island, if it is to come to pass, must be done so with due concern and care for public health and safety. We stand as Rhode Island police chiefs who have a duty to call real and obvious concerns to the attention of our policymakers in state government," said Sidney M. Wordell, RIPCA Executive Director. “Further evaluation of several aspects of the bill is needed in order to support a safe and healthy environment for all Rhode Islanders.”
“Driving while impaired by marijuana can increase the risk of motor vehicle fatalities, and significant research would be needed to evaluate procedures, tools and resources that can be made available to officers to properly detect marijuana-impaired drivers and keep everyone on the roadways safe,” said RIPCA President and Narragansett Chief of Police Sean Corrigan. “Without addressing the above factors, the Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association believes that the passage of this legislation as is would have adverse effects on the safety and wellbeing of Rhode Island communities.”
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