“51 Small RI Businesses Would Need to Close” - RI Cannabis Association on New Medical Marijuana Bill

“51 Small RI Businesses Would Need to Close” - RI Cannabis Association on New Medical Marijuana Bill

RI Cannabis Association President Katie Sokol Ratkiewicz joined GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle at the Rhode Island State House to talk about the organization’s concerns with new medical marijuana legislation. 

On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary heard 2020-S 2006, sponsored by Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio which would establish certain limitations on regulations promulgated by the Department of Health and the Department of Business Regulation in regard to medical marijuana.

It would also allow 6 medial marijuana compassion centers to have “unlimited grow,” according to Ratkiewicz — which she said would decimate the cultivator industry in the state. 

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

“So the RI Cannabis Association represents the majority of cultivators out there that are doing business, there’s about 51 of us — there’s also ancillary businesses in the cannabis industry, so I’m really representing all of us and our families, about 250 people [whose jobs] are at risk,” said Ratkiewicz.

Ratkiewicz who said their association wanted to see extended access for patients, was concerned that the legislation allows six new compassion centers to “grow as much as they want.”

“We’re concerned because there’s already an abundance of cannabis right now because there’s 51 cultivators. To add six more with unlimited [grow] would destroy us,” said Ratkiewicz.

“So like I said, about 250 employees would be out of jobs, and 51 RI small businesses would probably need to close.”