Rhode Island

Licensed marijuana outlets in Rhode Island sold $9.57 million worth of marijuana between January 1 and January 31, according to the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation. While this marks a slight decline from the $10.11 million recorded in December, it represents a modest rise from the $9.50 million sold in January 2024. Of the $9.57 million in sales, $7.89 million … [Read more...] about Rhode Island: Nearly $10 Million in Legal Cannabis Sold in January

Rhode Island’s Cannabis Control Commission escaped a lawsuit brought by a prospective marijuana business owner claiming that the state’s social equity licensing program is unconstitutional. The Cannabis Act gives special treatment to licensing applicants disproportionately impacted by criminal enforcement of marijuana laws. “The plaintiff’s claims are not ripe for judicial … [Read more...] about Rhode Island Cannabis Regulators Dodge Suit Over Equity Program

(WJAR) — Rhode Island cannabis regulators take action against two growing operations. The state’s Department of Business Regulation issued a decision Friday denying the license renewal for cannabis cultivator Seaweed Pharms. Regulators claim the marijuana growing company in Warwick failed to properly tag and/or track dozens of plants and thousands of grams of product, as … [Read more...] about Cannabis regulators pull one grower’s license, fine another

Rebecca Elwell, regional director of the state-partnered Newport County Prevention Coalition, holds up a medication lock bag, designed to prevent kids and teens from accessing or using drugs at a Dec. 3, 2024, press conference at Classical High School in Providence for the latest results of the Rhode Island Student Survey. A free bag can be obtained at the prevention … [Read more...] about Cannabis use is rising among R.I. middle schoolers; high school alcohol use is down, survey finds

PROVIDENCE – Retail cannabis shops are officially an allowed use across Providence following a City Council vote on Thursday night to allow them in the city's two commercial zones, downtown zone and its industrial zones.Why it matters: Before, Providence's zoning rules only allowed for the already existing medical marijuana operations, not the new retail stores recently … [Read more...] about Cannabis shops will be allowed in downtown Providence. Why they aren’t coming soon.

Rhode Island represents the smallest adult-use cannabis market in the nation, but slices of the pie are quite large for the handful of dispensaries currently capitalizing on sales. That will soon change. The Ocean State’s cannabis market is on pace to grow 10% in 2024, with licensed dispensaries projected to ring up nearly $118 million in adult-use and medical sales this year, … [Read more...] about 24 Adult-Use Dispensary Licenses Still Up for Grabs in Rhode Island via Lottery

Michelle Reddish was named the chief operating officer for the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority in June 2023 after previously serving as its chief regulatory officer. (Courtesy of Office of the Governor) One of Oklahoma’s top medical marijuana regulators is Gov. Dan McKee’s choice to become Rhode Island’s first cannabis administrator. Michelle Reddish was named to lead the … [Read more...] about McKee names Oklahoma medical marijuana regulator as his pick to lead new R.I. Cannabis Office

For the 10 years the Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center has operated, it, like other marijuana dispensaries, has confronted a significant economic challenge: the federal government considers cannabis on par with society’s most dangerous drugs. Being classified as a “Schedule 1” substance – in the same category as heroin and LSD – has meant dispensaries are prohibited from … [Read more...] about The feds may reclassify marijuana. That could be a big deal for RI businesses.