Medical Marijuana Laws in Rhode Island

The medical marijuana laws in RI have been in effect since 2006, however, are receiving a lot of publicity of late due to individuals who are not aware of the policies that govern the growing of medical marijuana.

The people who grow and distribute medical marijuana for the state run what is called, Compassion Centers. The guidelines for obtaining licensing for these centers is very strict and many are turned away for either lack of adequate criteria, or failure to fill out the forms correctly.

There has been some ambiguity with regard to what is required, and officials for the state have promised to better explain the necessary format and guidelines to applicants.

Recently, over 15 people were denied status as a Compassion Center for everything ranging from failure to meet scoring requirements, to going over the page limit for the application. The Department of Health (HEALTH) in RI has undergone an extensive review of the application and has clarified the original issues.

According to the language of the law passed in 2006, the State of RI was obligated, within 90 days of the effective date of the act, to begin accepting applications for the operation of a single compassion center. Further, the act called for the first compassion center in the state to be approved by December 2009.

To date there are none.

Under the Medical Marijuana growing laws for the state, an owner can be charged with a drug related offense and sent to jail for just one plant over the limit.


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