Senate Judiciary Passes Legislation to Legalize, Tax and Regulate Cannabis in RI
GoLocalProv News Team
Senate Judiciary Passes Legislation to Legalize, Tax and Regulate Cannabis in RI
The bill, which passed 6 to 2, would create an independent cannabis control commission to oversee the program and issue licenses for cannabis retailers.
The legislation is expected to go to the full Senate next Tuesday.
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The bill legalizes the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by individuals 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.
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.
The proposed amendment would cap retail licenses at one license per 20,000 residents per municipality instead of 10,000 residents, but every community would remain eligible for at least three retail licenses. The amendment would also reserve at least one-third of all licenses for members of groups that have been historically disproportionately harmed by previous enforcement of drug laws. The amendment also places a moratorium on cultivator licenses until July 1, 2023.
While cities and towns would have the opportunity to opt-out through voter referendum, in doing so they 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.