Rhode Island

Medical Marijuana

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 21-28.6-1 to 21-28.6-17 (2017)

2014 Act No. 515
Medical Marijuana - Cooperative Cultivation
EFFECTIVE DATE: September 1, 2014

2012 Act No. 118
Medical Marijuana - Compassion Centers
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 30, 2012

2012 Act No. 88
Medical Marijuana - Compassion Centers
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 22, 2012

2009 Act No. 17
Medical Marijuana
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 16, 2009

2009 Act No. 16
Medical Marijuana
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 16, 2009

2007 Act No. 495
Medical Marijuana
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 22, 2007

2007 Act No. 72
Medical Marijuana
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 21, 2007

2005 Act No. 443
Medical Marijuana
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 3, 2006

2005 Act No. 442
Medical Marijuana
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 3, 2006

Regulations

Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Licensing

161-RICR-300-35-1
1.7 Licensed Cultivator Operational Provisions
C. Inventory Limitations; Sources of Inventory
1. Marijuana Plant Inventory
a. Prior to the implementation of the Medical Marijuana Tracking System, micro-licensees may not possess more than fifty (50) mature marijuana plants and fifty (50) seedlings which must be properly tagged and tracked in accordance with acceptable alternative tagging and tracking under Section 1.7(D).
b. Prior to the implementation of the Medical Marijuana Tracking System, Class A cultivator licensees may not possess more than two hundred and fifty (250) mature marijuana plants and two hundred and fifty (250) seedlings which must be properly tagged and tracked in accordance with acceptable alternative tagging and tracking under Section 1.7(D).
b. Prior to the implementation of the Medical Marijuana Tracking System, Class B cultivator licensees will be limited to five hundred (500) mature marijuana plants and five hundred (500) seedlings which must be properly tagged and tracked in accordance with acceptable alternative tagging and tracking under Section 1.7(D).
c. After implementation of the Medical Marijuana Tracking System, licensed cultivators will not be subject to a numerical possession limit for marijuana plants, provided every plant is properly tagged and tracked in the Medical Marijuana Tracking System.

§ 21-28.6-2 Legislative findings.

(3) Although federal law currently prohibits any use of marijuana, the laws of Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington permit the medical use and cultivation of marijuana. Rhode Island joins in this effort for the health and welfare of its citizens.

(4) States are not required to enforce federal law or prosecute people for engaging in activities prohibited by federal law. Therefore, compliance with this chapter does not put the state of Rhode Island in violation of federal law.

(5) State law should make a distinction between the medical and nonmedical use of marijuana. Hence, the purpose of this chapter is to protect patients with debilitating medical conditions, and their physicians and primary caregivers, from arrest and prosecution, criminal and other penalties, and property forfeiture if such patients engage in the medical use of marijuana.

(6) The general assembly enacts this chapter pursuant to its police power to enact legislation for the protection of the health of its citizens, as reserved to the state in the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.

Here are the federal penalties for marijuana plants:

Industrial Hemp

R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 2-26-1 to 2-26-9 (2017)

Establishes a commercial hemp program overseen by the Department of Business Regulation.
- Allows the Division of Agriculture in the Department of Environmental Management to assist the Department of Business Regulation in regulating hemp.
Growers must verify they are using certified seeds.
The department shall authorize institutions of higher education to grow hemp for research purposes.

2016 Act No. 442
Industrial Hemp
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2017

2016 Act No. 441
Industrial Hemp
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2017

History

1974 Act No. 183
Uniform Controlled Substances Act
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 1974

Resources

Page last updated on January 28, 2018