Two New Rhode Island Dispensaries Applicants Approved

In October, Rhode Island approved marijuana emergency regulations in fear that dispensaries might run out of medical marijuana. The concern was that outside growers may not have been able to keep up with demand (the state’s 2,850 registered caregivers can grow marijuana for the state’s 16,120 patients).

Taking it a step further, caregivers won’t be able to sell their excess crops to dispensaries anymore, according to Providence Journal. It stops on January 1. However, the state feared that the excess supply would make its way to the black market, so new provisions had to be put in place.

The two approved applicants, whose names have not been released, have 9 months to obtain necessary permits following the passing of state-required inspections. The names of the approved applicants won’t be released until their licenses are approved.

No cap is placed on the number of cultivators that the state can have. Including the two already approved, six total applications have been submitted so far.

Cultivators previously licensed as caregivers are allowed to transfer plants to their new grows. Cultivators are permitted to provide medical marijuana dispensaries but caregivers are not.

Department of Business Regulation spokesman Matt Sheaff said, “Every applicant reviewed so far has demonstrated a successful history of supplying medicine to compassion centers and an ability to quickly operate under an issued license. The state believes it is on track to minimize any potential supply disruption.”