PROVIDENCE — David Spradin is the CEO of a California-based marijuana company called Perfect Union. It has 14 marijuana stores between Los Angeles and Sacramento, six stores in New Mexico and has had stores in Oregon and Washington, says Rick McAuliffe, a Rhode Island lobbyist who now also serves as a director for Spradin’s new local […]
Rhode Island
Rhode Island opens application window for 6 new medical-marijuana dispensaries
Many of the 55 or so state-licensed cultivators who now grow medical marijuana for the three existing dispensaries have their eye on winning one of the licenses. The state Department of Business Regulation will begin accepting applications Friday from businesses hoping to win a license to operate one of six additional medical marijuana dispensaries. But […]
In reversal, R.I. lawmakers abandon attempt to regulate medical marijuana outlets
The House and Senate passed identical bills in unanimous votes, removing the “legislative veto” language over medical marijuana and hemp regulations that was included in this year’s state budget. There was no debate. Rhode Island lawmakers voted Tuesday to give back the final say over state cannabis regulations that they gave themselves last summer, backing […]
Where Does Rhode Island Stand On Marijuana?
In the early evening of June 22, the Rhode Island House of Representatives passed the state’s $9.9 billion budget for fiscal 2020. Among the high-profile provisions in the 488-page spending plan was Article 15, which significantly reshaped the state’s medical marijuana industry. After six years of three dispensaries, the General Assembly expanded the marketplace to […]
R.I. Senate won’t support legalizing marijuana in 2020
Marijuana legalization in Rhode Island appears dead in the state Senate for another year. Senate President Dominick Ruggerio said Tuesday he doesn’t think the state’s medical marijuana program has been well-regulated and expanding legal access to the drug any further is a bad idea. “No,” Ruggerio said in a State House interview Tuesday, when asked […]
Rhode Island bills would help minorities get into marijuana business
PROVIDENCE — House lawmakers have introduced several bills designed to help minorities and their communities — disproportionately hurt over the years by marijuana prosecution — enter the profitable pot business. While no approved recreational marijuana market exists in Rhode Island, Gov. Gina Raimondo has called on lawmakers this session to legalize recreational pot. She’s also […]
Rhode Island demand for medical marijuana skyrocketing
While state lawmakers consider legalizing recreational pot this year, sales of medical marijuana continue to hit new highs. The reason isn’t just that more people are ailing, state regulators say. The state’s three medical marijuana dispensaries are on pace to sell about $56 million worth of medicinal pot in fiscal 2019, said Norman Birenbaum, the state’s top […]
Rhode Island governor to propose legalizing recreational marijuana
Facing the “inevitable” prospect of being encircled by states that have legalized recreational marijuana, Gov. Gina Raimondo will propose this week that Rhode Island do the same. “I will say, I do this with reluctance,” she told The Journal last week. “I have resisted this for the four years I’ve been governor. … Now, however, […]
Rhode Island Legislatures to Introduce Plan for Marijuana Legalization in 2018
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Marijuana legalization advocates are planning to introduce a scaled-back version of their legislation that would legalize the drug next year but put the brakes on immediate plans for retail stores. While the previous version of the bill called for legalizing the drug immediately, the new proposal calls for taking that step in […]
Rhode Island legislators push bill to legalize marijuana in 2018
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Marijuana legalization advocates are planning to introduce a scaled-back version of their legislation that would legalize the drug next year but put the brakes on immediate plans for any retail stores. Rather than legalize the drug immediately, the new plan calls for taking that step in July 2018 when recreational pot shops […]
