Where We Are Now
Rhode Island did it. Here’s what happened — and what comes next.
We Won.
When Regulate RI was founded in 2013, marijuana prohibition was firmly entrenched in Rhode Island law. Possession could mean arrest. Communities of color were bearing the overwhelming burden of enforcement. Law enforcement resources were being drained. And a completely unregulated black market was thriving unchallenged.
We believed there was a better way. So did hundreds of volunteers, dozens of member organizations, and ultimately — after nearly a decade of sustained advocacy — a majority of Rhode Island’s lawmakers.
On May 25, 2022, Governor Dan McKee signed the Rhode Island Cannabis Act into law, making Rhode Island the 19th state in the nation to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis. It was a historic moment — and it didn’t happen by accident. It happened because Rhode Islanders showed up, spoke out, and refused to accept a failed policy as inevitable.
What the Law Does
The Rhode Island Cannabis Act is comprehensive, equitable, and carefully constructed. Here’s what it delivers:
For Adults Adults 21 and older can now legally purchase up to 1 ounce of marijuana, keep up to 10 ounces at home, and cultivate up to three mature and three immature cannabis plants for personal use. The black market no longer has a monopoly. Adults can access tested, regulated products from licensed retailers with full consumer protections in place.
For Communities One of the most meaningful provisions of the Act is its commitment to undoing the harms of prohibition. The law includes automatic expungement of prior civil or criminal marijuana possession charges, clearing the records of tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders who were burdened by convictions for activities that are now perfectly legal. You no longer need to petition a court or hire a lawyer. The state does it for you.
For Social Equity The legislation makes significant investments in creating an equitable, accessible cannabis retail market — including the reservation of a portion of new licenses for social equity applicants and worker-owned cooperatives. The communities that suffered most under prohibition deserve to participate fully in the industry that replaced it.
For Public Revenue The law establishes a 20% tax rate on cannabis sales, split across a 7% general sales tax, a 10% cannabis-specific tax, and a 3% municipal tax directed to the city or town where the sale occurs. That revenue flows back into Rhode Island communities — funding public health, education, and substance abuse treatment rather than disappearing into an untaxed underground economy.
For Oversight The Cannabis Act established a three-member Cannabis Control Commission to regulate, license, and enforce all matters relating to the cannabis industry in Rhode Island. Rhode Island completed its transition of full regulatory oversight to the Cannabis Control Commission starting May 1, 2025 — marking the maturation of the state’s cannabis framework from a temporary arrangement into a permanent, professional regulatory structure.
The Medical Program Continues
Legalization didn’t replace Rhode Island’s medical marijuana program — it strengthened it. Rhode Island maintains its medical cannabis program alongside the adult-use market, allowing registered patients with qualifying conditions to access cannabis products and cultivate additional plants for medical use under state regulations.
Registered medical marijuana patients can grow up to 12 mature and 12 immature plants at home and purchase up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis within a 15-day period — significantly more generous allowances than the adult-use program, reflecting the greater need of patients who depend on cannabis therapeutically.
Medical patients also saw their fee burdens reduced under the new law, removing financial barriers that had made the program inaccessible to lower-income patients.
How We Got Here
The road to legalization was long — and at times, frustrating.
Bills to legalize marijuana were introduced in the Rhode Island General Assembly every year since 2011, but were repeatedly held for further study with no action taken. Year after year, advocates returned. Year after year, the public grew more supportive. A February 2017 poll showed 59% of Rhode Islanders in favor of full legalization — a number that only grew as neighboring states moved forward and the evidence mounted.
Regulate RI was part of that sustained push every step of the way — organizing volunteers, educating lawmakers, building coalitions, and keeping the pressure on when it would have been easy to give up.
The 2022 bill was celebrated not just for passing, but for how it passed — with a serious commitment to equity, expungement, and community investment that reflected years of advocacy from organizations who insisted that legalization had to be done right, not just done quickly.
What Still Needs Attention
Legalization was the beginning, not the end. Implementation is where promises meet reality — and there is still meaningful work to be done.
Expungement follow-through. Automatic expungement was one of the law’s landmark provisions. Monitoring its implementation and ensuring that eligible Rhode Islanders actually receive the relief they’re entitled to remains an ongoing priority.
Social equity in practice. Reserved licenses and fee waivers are important tools — but equity in the cannabis industry requires more than policy language. Access to capital, business support, and community outreach are essential to making equity provisions real rather than symbolic.
Regulatory fairness. As the Cannabis Control Commission matures and the market develops, ongoing public engagement is needed to ensure that regulations serve consumers, small businesses, and communities — not just large commercial interests.
Consumer education. Many Rhode Islanders are still navigating what’s legal, what’s regulated, and how to make informed choices. Clear, accurate public information remains a public health priority.
Youth protection. One of the core arguments for regulation was that it would better protect young people than prohibition. Holding the industry accountable to that promise — through enforcement of age restrictions and responsible marketing standards — requires continued vigilance.
A Note on Where Regulate RI Stands
Regulate RI was built to end prohibition. That mission is accomplished.
What remains is the work of ensuring that the system Rhode Island built is as fair, effective, and equitable as it was promised to be. We remain committed to that work — as a resource, a watchdog, and a voice for the Rhode Islanders who fought for this change and deserve to see it delivered fully.
We are proud of what this coalition achieved. And we are clear-eyed about the work that remains.
Stay Informed
Rhode Island’s cannabis landscape continues to evolve. Regulations are updated. New licenses are issued. Legislative proposals emerge. We’ll keep tracking developments so you don’t have to.
📋 [View Current Rhode Island Cannabis Regulations →] 🏛️ [Follow the Cannabis Control Commission →] 📬 [Sign Up for Updates →] 🤝 [Get Involved →]
Regulate RI — Fighting for smarter policy since 2013. Holding the line on implementation ever since.