Rhode Island Marijuana | RI Marijuana RI Marijuana News and Information
For the third year in a row the state is introducing legislation to legalize the adult use of marijuana. The Cannabis Regulation, Control and Taxation Act has officially been proposed by Rhode Island lawmakers. Given the legality of marijuana in Massachusetts and Maine, Rhode Island is attempting to follow suit.
Adults ages 21 and older would be permitted to use marijuana recreationally, if the legislation passes, according to The Brown Daily Herald. With the support of State Senator Joshua Miller, State Representative Scott Slater proposed the bill. Product testing would be mandatory and there would be strict labeling regulations in place too.
The bill also calls for mandatory reviews for all products for sale, limits on THC potency per product and restrictions regarding advertising. Local municipalities would have a set level of control over the operations of legal marijuana businesses, with voter approval.
The bill is already widely supported on both political sides in the state. Governor Gina Raimondo has not commented regarding her status on the bill.
Jared Moffat of Regulate Rhode Island said, “On the heels of Massachusetts, Maine, Nevada and California, we think this year is a really great opportunity for us to get the bill passed.”
Moffat also said, “It’s certainly not a guarantee, but we do have more momentum than we’ve ever had before.”
In regards to neighboring Massachusetts now having legal marijuana, Moffat said, “With Massachusetts right across the border, it makes sense for Rhode Island to get its system running at the same time.”
Nadir Pearson is forming the Student Marijuana Alliance for Research and Transparency (SMART). The goal of the group is to “change policies through community outreach, workshops and hands-on work with people in the industry”.
Pearson said, “There’s a big cloud of fear we are trying to dismantle. Every subject can involve cannabis, from biology to engineering. Brown can be a place where we can open up the dialogue.”
