§ 21-28.11-1. Short title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as “The Rhode Island Cannabis Act”. History of Section.P.L. 2022, ch. 31, § 1, effective May 25, 2022; P.L. 2022, ch. 32, § 1, effective May 25, 2022.
§ 21-28.11-10. Hybrid cannabis retailers. (a) On or after December 1, 2022, a compassion center licensed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 28.6 of this title, upon payment to the office of cannabis regulation of an hybrid cannabis retailer fee of one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000) to be deposited in the social equity fund, […]
§ 21-28.11-10.1. Transitional period and transfer of authority. (a) To protect public health and public safety, upon the effective date of this chapter [May 25, 2022] until final issuance of the commission’s rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, there shall exist a transitional period of regulatory and enforcement authority regarding […]
§ 21-28.11-10.2. Cannabis retail sales. (a) In addition to the hybrid cannabis retailer certificates that may be issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, after issuance of the final rules and regulations, the commission may grant twenty-four (24) retail licenses, subject to the following restrictions: (1) The retail licenses shall be issued pursuant to […]
§ 21-28.11-10.3. Geographic zones. For purposes of issuance of cannabis retail licenses by the commission pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the following geographic zones are established: (1) Zone 1 shall consist of the towns of Burrillville, Cumberland, Glocester, North Smithfield, Smithfield and the city of Woonsocket. (2) Zone 2 shall consist of the […]
§ 21-28.11-10.4. Medical marijuana program parity. No later than April 1, 2024, the commission shall, in collaboration with the department of health and the office of management and budget, conduct and deliver to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the president of the senate a study relating to the impact of […]
§ 21-28.11-11. Cannabis testing laboratories — Licensure and oversight. (a) In consultation with the department of health, the commission shall have authority to promulgate regulations to create and implement all licenses involving cannabis reference testing requirements, including approval of laboratory proficiency programs and proficiency sample providers, quality assurance sample providers, round robin testing and regulations […]
§ 21-28.11-12. Licenses for handlers and employees. (a) The commission by rule or regulation may promulgate rules and regulations to establish the registration or licensing of an individual who performs work for or on behalf of a person or entity licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter to include, but not be limited to, […]
§ 21-28.11-12.1. Criminal record information — Permitted use. (a) The commission shall require all applicants for license and registration under this chapter to undergo a national criminal background check prior to issuing any license or registration. The applicant shall apply to the bureau of criminal identification of the department of attorney general, department of public […]
§ 21-28.11-12.2. Labor peace agreement — Requirements. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (1) “Bona fide labor organization” is a labor union that represents or is actively seeking to represent cannabis workers. (2) “Labor peace agreement” means an agreement between a licensee and a bona fide […]
§ 21-28.11-13. Taxes. (a) The following taxes are imposed on the retail sale of adult use cannabis pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. (1) Sales tax pursuant to the provisions of § 44-18-18; (2) A state cannabis excise tax equal to ten percent (10%) of each retail sale as defined in § 44-18-8; and […]
§ 21-28.11-14. Municipal fees. No fee, tax, charge or expense shall be assessed or collected by or on behalf of a municipality from an individual licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, except for any fee, tax, charge or expense generally assessed or collected from residents or businesses located in the municipality or as […]
§ 21-28.11-15. Municipal authority. (a) Other than a city or town that is a host community for an existing licensed medical cannabis treatment center, any city or town may, by resolution of the city or town council, cause to be printed on the ballot in an election held on or before November 8, 2022, the […]
§ 21-28.11-16. Local control. (a) A city or town may adopt ordinances and by-laws that impose reasonable safeguards on the operation of cannabis establishments, provided they are not unreasonable and impracticable and are not in conflict with this chapter or with regulations made pursuant to this chapter and that: (1) Govern the time, place and […]
§ 21-28.11-17. No right to license. (a) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as establishing a right in any person or entity to be issued a license or certificate pursuant to this chapter. (b) The commission shall exercise discretion to issue licenses and certificates to further the purposes of this chapter and may […]
§ 21-28.11-17.1. General conditions for licenses. (a) Upon receipt of a complete cannabis establishment license application and the application fee, the commission shall forward a copy of the application to the city or town in which the cannabis establishment is to be located, determine whether the applicant and the premises qualify for the license and […]
§ 21-28.11-18. Enforcement. (a)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if the commission has cause to believe that a violation of any provision of chapters 21-28.6 or 21-28.11 or any regulations promulgated thereunder has occurred by a licensee that is under the commission’s jurisdiction pursuant to chapters 21-28.6 or 21-28.11, or that any person […]
§ 21-28.11-18.1. Cannabis office. (a) There is hereby established the “cannabis office”. The director of the department of business regulation shall grant to the cannabis office reasonable access to appropriate physical accommodations and expert and other appropriate staff. (b) Upon final issuance of the commission’s rules and regulations, whenever in the general laws, rules or […]
§ 21-28.11-19. Multiple licenses restricted. (a) No person or entity licensed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter or chapter 28.6 of this title, except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, shall be granted more than one license. (b) No licensee shall own, control, manage or operate any other entity licensed pursuant to […]
§ 21-28.11-2. Organizational structure. (a) The regulation, licensing, and enforcement requirements pertaining to regulated cannabis establishments shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter by virtue of an independent three (3) member commission which shall exercise all powers necessary for the implementation, administration and enforcement of cannabis regulation and policy for both medical […]
