PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Just before Rhode Island’s first medical marijuana dispensaries opened four years ago, fewer than 5,000 people in the state were registered patients. Since then, the number of medical marijuana patients in Rhode Island has more than tripled, to 17,757. Approximately one out of every 45 adults in the state is now a […]
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Legislators Push for Recreational Marijuana Vote This Spring
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island state legislators hoping to legalize recreational marijuana say they have enough support to pass a bill if it comes to a vote this spring in the Democrat-controlled General Assembly. Rep. Scott Slater, a Providence Democrat and legalization proponent, said taking action this year would allow Rhode Island to have […]
These 11 States May Change Their Marijuana Laws in 2017
After four states legalized recreational marijuana last year and twice that many approved new medical marijuana laws, at least eleven more are considering changing their laws in 2017. Here are the states and the legislation they’re proposing: 1. Connecticut Not only are lawmakers hoping to expand Connecticut’s five-year-old medical marijuana legislation, but Martin Looney, the […]
Rhode Island Wants to Begin Marijuana Sales Before Massachusetts
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Trying to beat Massachusetts to the punch, marijuana-legalization advocates on Wednesday unveiled a proposal that would allow recreational pot shops to open in Rhode Island before any will be allowed to conduct sales in the Bay State. While the opening of Massachusetts pot shops has been delayed by lawmakers until July 2018, […]
Some 55% of Rhode Island Residents Support Recreational Marijuana
A majority of Rhode Islanders — 55 percent — support legalizing marijuana for recreational use, according to a Brown University Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy poll released Sunday. And a strong majority — 67 percent — support the state’s current law allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Also, asked if they […]
Rhode Island Worried That Massachusetts Might Legalize Cannabis First
Lawmakers considering a hot-button proposal to legalize recreational marijuana in Rhode Island had one clear concern on their minds Tuesday night: What if Massachusetts beats us? The General Assembly has grappled with the legalization question for five years. During a House Judiciary Committee hearing the familiar arguments were heard from proponents who say legalization will […]
Rhode Island Lobbyists Thrive as Marijuana Bills Multiply
Marijuana is a booming business for lobbyists at the Rhode Island State House. There are at least three legislative battlegrounds this year: Governor Raimondo’s highly controversial bid to levy new taxes on medical-marijuana plants. The renewed drive to legalize marijuana to raise tens of millions of new state tax dollars. The push to expand the […]
Rhode Island Wants to Raise Revenues by “Tagging” Medical Marijuana Plants
Growing medical marijuana could help grow Rhode Island state revenue by an additional $8.4 million next year, under Governor Raimondo’s budget plan. The governor has proposed that every medical marijuana plant not grown at a commercial compassion center must have a state tag. Each tag would cost $150 for patients who grow their own plants or $350 […]
Rhode Island Finds That Medical Marijuana Revenues Are Only Half of Expected
PROVIDENCE — It has been two years since Rhode Island launched its medical marijuana market and opened dispensaries around the state, but tax revenues haven’t been quite as high as state officials expected. There are now three medical marijuana dispensaries — also known as compassion centers — selling marijuana to patients in Rhode Island, with […]
Majority of Rhode Island Voters Support Regulating Marijuana Like Alcohol
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A majority of Rhode Islanders support regulating marijuana similar to alcohol, according to a poll commissioned by marijuana legalization advocates Monday. In the poll of 762 Rhode Island voters, 57 percent said they would support legalizing and taxing marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol, like laws in Colorado, Washington, Oregon and […]
