Original News Break
The state’s first retail sales of cannabis for recreational use will start this week, on December 1, according to a statement from the governor of Rhode Island.
Five current medical cannabis shops have received licenses as “hybrid” retailers, making them the first to provide services to customers over the age of 21. This announcement was made by Governor Dan McKee and the state Department of Business Regulation (o
Matt Santacroce, interim deputy director of the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, said:
We were pleased with the quality and comprehensiveness of the applications we received from the state’s compassion centers, and we are proud to launch adult use sales in Rhode Island just six months after the Cannabis Act was signed into law, marking the Northeast’s fastest implementation period. We look forward to continuing to work with the state’s cannabis business community to ensure this critical economic sector scales in compliance with the rules and regulations put forward by state regulators.
The declaration comes two weeks after voters in more than 30 cities in Rhode Island were asked to decide whether or not to let cannabis companies to operate there. Almost all of the cities approved the sale of marijuana.
Cities in Rhode Island that chose not to put the issue on the ballot will be able to have marijuana markets there. Since several of the state’s major cities—including Cranston, Pawtucket, Providence, and Warwick—opted not to put the question to a vote, stores will automatically be allowed.
The first five dispensaries to get hybrid licenses are:
Aura of Rhode Island (Central Falls)
Thomas C. Slater Center (Providence)
Mother Earth Wellness (Pawtucket)
Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center (Portsmouth)
RISE Warwick (Warwick)
