Rhode Island is one of the few medical marijuana states that allows for cooperatively cultivated marijuana by cardholders. The Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act was passed by the state legislature and signed into law on January 3, 2006. In 2009 the state allowed not-for-profit compassion centers to distribute medical marijuana. The state limited the number of CC to 3.
At a Glance
At a Glance
Medical Marijuana Program: Yes
Adult Use / Recreational MMJ: No
Pediatric: Yes
Home grow: Yes
Possession limit: Two and one-half ounces
Reciprocity: Yes, authorizes a patient with a debilitating medical condition, with a registry identification card (or its equivalent), to engage in the medical use of marijuana. Also authorizes a person to assist with the medical use of marijuana by a patient with a debilitating medical condition.
Legislation: Senate Bill 0710
Estimated # of registered patients: 19,161
Types of cannabis permitted for use: All
Legislation & Important Dates
Legalization & Important Dates
• After Senate Bill 0710 was approved, by the House on June 24, 2005, and the Senate on June 28, 2005, it was vetoed by the Governor on June 29, 2005. The House and Senate responded by overriding the veto, on June 30, 2005.
• And on January 03, 2006, the veto was successfully overridden by the House 59-13, effectively creating the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act
• H5359 — passed on February 10, 2009; effective June 16, 2009 — amended the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act, to include instructions for the creation, regulation, and administration of state-licensed compassion care centers.
Types of Licenses
Types of Licenses
License Class Size of Cultivation Facility
• Micro-license 0 – 2,500 sq. ft.
• Class A 0 – 5000 sq. ft.
• Class B 5,001 – 10,000 sq. ft.
• Class C 10,001 – 15,000 sq. ft.
• Class D 15,001 – 20,000 sq. ft.
Associated Fees
Associated Fees
Compassion Center License Fees
Compassion Center: Initial Application for Registration $250.00
Compassion Center: Annual Registration Fee $5,000.00
Compassion Center – Principal Officer, Board Member, Agent, Volunteer or Employee: Annual Fee for Registry Identification Card $100.00
Cultivation License Class Annual License Fee
Nonrefundable application fee of five-thousand dollars ($5000)
• Micro-license $5,000.00
• Class A $20,000.00
• Class B $35,000.00
• Class C $50,000.00
• Class D $80,000.00
Qualifying Conditions
Qualifying Conditions
• Cancer or the treatment of this condition; including chemotherapy, radiation, etc.
• Glaucoma or the treatment of this condition
• Positive status for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or the treatment of this condition
• Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or the treatment of this condition
• Hepatitis C
• or the treatment of this condition A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one or more of the following:
• (Check all appropriate box(es))
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome Severe, debilitating, chronic pain-(specify)
• Severe nausea Seizures, including but not limited to those characteristic of epilepsy
• Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to, those characteristic of multiple sclerosis or Crohn’s disease
• Agitation related to Alzheimer’s Disease
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Patient must be 18 years or older
How to Become A Medical Marijuana Patient
How to Become A Medical Marijuana Patient
1. Patients are required to obtain legitimate medical records or documentation from their primary care physician describing the diagnosis of their qualifying condition
2. Patients are required to obtain a signed Physician’s Statement required to obtain a signed Physician’s Statement from a physician, currently licensed to practice medicine in Rhode
3. Patients must be a resident in the state of Rhode Island with proof of residency. If you do not have a Rhode Island I.D. an out of state I.D., passport, or other photo I.D. with proof of residency such as bank statement, utility bill, etc is acceptable.
4. To qualify, a patient needs to be diagnosed by a physician as having one of the debilitating medical conditions that is specifically identified in the law:
a. Once certified, all patient MUST complete an application to register with the Rhode Island Patient Registry — registration in mandatory to be ensured protection under, Rhode Island’s medical marijuana law.
5. The Rhode Island MMP does accept out of state registry cards, but only for the conditions approved by the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act.
6. The Rhode Island Patient Registry fee is $100 for new applications and renewals. For patients on Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the fee is $10.
Card Holder Benefits
Card Holder Benefitst
Access to Approved Marijuana Dispensaries
Possess Sufficient Supply
Grow Marijuana at Home
Caregivers
Caregivers
The caregiver must be 21 years of age or older. Primary caregiver may assist no more than 5 qualifying patients with their medical use of marijuana. Patients can appoint no more than one caregiver.
