Some slight edits were made to a bill that lawmakers presented earlier this year to legalize marijuana for recreational sales. Among the newly added language is an automatic expungement process that would occur by July 1, 2024. The timeline to open the first recreational cannabis dispensary in Rhode Island was pushed back to December 1st, 2022. The bill also seeks to eliminate the fees that patients and caregivers pay to register with the medical marijuana program.
This week lawmakers in the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 9 in favor and one opposed to move the bill to the Senate floor for a full vote. The bill is also making its way through the Rhode Island House with a vote expected this week. The legislation would allow individuals 21 years and older to possess, use, and purchase up an ounce of marijuana at a time. Adults can possess up to ten ounces inside the home and cultivate up to three mature cannabis plants and up to a total of three immature cannabis plants per dwelling unit for personal use.
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee has publicly shared his belief that the state should legalize adult-use cannabis. In response to the recently re-drafted bill Governor McKee said on social media this week, “We look forward to reviewing the final bill that comes out of the General Assembly and signing legalization of adult use cannabis into law.”
Find the full story from WJAR here: https://turnto10.com/politics/rhode-island-general-assembly-lawmakers-recreational-marijuana-cannabis-pot-bill-legislation-expungement
Learn additional information from WJAR here: https://turnto10.com/politics/rhode-island-recreational-marijuana-cannabis-pot-legislation-senate-judicial-committee-vote-may-18-2022
