Five Rhode Island licensed medical cannabis compassion centers have gotten the green light to launch sales on or after December 1.
“This milestone is the result of a carefully executed process to ensure that our state’s entry into this emerging market was done in a safe, controlled and equitable manner,” Governor Dan McKee said in a press release issued on Tuesday. “It is also a win for our statewide economy and our strong, locally based cannabis supply chain, which consists of nearly 70 licensed cultivators, processors and manufacturers in addition to our licensed compassion centers.”
The following five applicants were approved for “hybrid retail licenses,” which will allow them to sell both medical and recreational cannabis to Rhode Island's adults over 21:
- Aura of Rhode Island (Central Falls)
- Thomas C. Slater Center (Providence)
- Mother Earth Wellness (Pawtucket)
- Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center (Portsmouth)
- RISE Warwick (Warwick)
“We are proud to launch adult-use sales in Rhode Island just six months after the Cannabis Act was signed into law, marking the Northeast’s fastest implementation period,” Matt Santacroce, interim deputy director of the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, said.
Rhode Island lawmakers gave the green light to a pair of identical companion bills to legalize adult recreational cannabis use in May. McKee signed into law the Rhode Island Cannabis Act shortly after, legalizing and safely regulating recreational adult-use cannabis in the state.
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What’s In Rhode Island's Legalization The Bill?
The Rhode Island Cannabis Act would allow adults over 21 to purchase, possess and home-cultivate up to six plants and purchase limited amounts of cannabis.
In addition to facilitating the automatic review and expungement of past criminal records, the bill contains provisions for re-investing tax revenue from cannabis sales into communities negatively affected by cannabis prohibition. It also intends to help equity applicants participate in the new market.
Photo: Courtesy of Mohan Nannapaneni by Pexels and Kindel Media by Pixabay
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