RI Senate Committee To Vote On Marijuana Legalization

PROVIDENCE, RI — The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to vote today (June 14) on legislation to legalize, tax and regulate cannabis. The 3 p.m. meeting will be streamed live online by Capitol Television at http://www.rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/default.aspx. The State House remains closed to in-person testimony.

The committee will consider legislation (2021-S 0568A) that legalizes the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by persons over the age of 21. It also allows for home grow comparable to neighboring Massachusetts. Cannabis consumption would be prohibited in public places, and unsealed containers would be prohibited from the passenger areas of a car.

According to a news release from the Rhode Island General Assembly:

• In addition to a 3 percent local sales tax and the state’s regular sales tax, a cannabis sales tax of 10 percent would apply. Licensing fees range from as low as $100 for a small cultivator’s license, $5,000 for manufacturers and testing entities’ licenses, and up to $20,000 for the largest cultivators and retailers.

• The bill creates a five-member, full-time Cannabis Control Commission board tasked with overseeing the licensing of four aspects of the cannabis supply chain: cultivation, manufacturing, retail, and testing. The commission would be empowered to establish rules and regulations for the state’s cannabis market and tasked to vet applicants.

• Retail licenses would be capped at one license per 20,000 residents per municipality and every community would be eligible for at least three retail licenses.

• At least one-third of all licenses would be reserved for members of groups that have been historically disproportionately harmed by previous enforcement of drug laws.

• The amendment places a moratorium on cultivator licenses until July 1, 2023.

• Cities and towns would have the opportunity to opt out through voter referendum, but in doing would forgo their opportunity to garner the 3 percent local tax collected at point of sale. Communities could pass local ordinances to regulate the time, place, and manner of cannabis operators. However, local communities could not impose any additional fees or contingencies.