MSN
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Lawmakers are looking to “course correct” Rhode Island’s legalized marijuana rollout after a judge ordered the state’s Cannabis Control Commission to pause its retail license lottery and application process.
The proposal would change parts of the state’s cannabis law, with supporters arguing it’s needed to get the industry moving again.
Rhode Island legalized recreational cannabis in 2022 and has eight dispensaries open across the state. In April, a federal judge ordered the CCC to stop its retail license lottery and application review process after finding parts of the law unconstitutional.
The judge blocked the state from moving forward with the lottery for 20 recreational dispensary licenses, after three lawsuits challenged how constitutional the residency requirements were.
State lawmakers are now considering a bill that would remove some of the state’s residency requirements and restart the application process.
Rep. Scott Slater, who introduced the bill, spoke during a hearing with the House Corporations Committee on Thursday night.
The proposed legislation would require the CCC to restart key parts of the state’s cannabis licensing process within 60 days of the bill becoming law. That includes launching a new social equity certification program, opening a fresh application process for prospective businesses, refunding fees tied to previous applications, and moving forward with a revised system for reviewing and approving licenses.
“They took out licenses and they put their money into the cultivation, propping up the medical market for many years before we went recreational,” said Rep. Slater. “So I’ve always had a soft spot and thought they were given a raw deal in this market in the way we’ve been doing it.”
Cultivators, applicants and state officials said the delay is hurting Rhode Island businesses and costing the state millions in tax revenue.
While Massachusetts has five to six dispensaries per 100,000 people, Rhode Island has less than one.
“Roughly 60% of our business comes from Rhode Island customers. That’s nine million dollars at one store that could be here in the state, and roughly 1.8 million dollars in tax revenue that could be here for the state,” one man said during the hearing. “This process has taken far too long it’s hurting not only the state, it’s hurting customers who want more choices and more access here.”
Lawmakers have not yet voted on the proposal.
