Rhode Island

A LEGAL MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENT ...

1. Is a Rhode Island resident. 

2. Has no minimum age requirement. Patients of any age may apply. However, patients under the age of 18 must have a custodial parent or legal guardian designated as their primary caregiver and authorized purchaser, and apply using a Minor Form.

3. Has a qualifying "debilitating medical condition" diagnosed by a licensed physician (MD or DO) practicing in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, or Connecticut. Eligible certifying practitioners are physicians (MD or DO), physician assistants (PA), and advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) licensed in Rhode Island, or physicians (MD or DO) licensed in Massachusetts or Connecticut. The certification must be completed on the RIDOH Practitioner Written Certification Form.

Approved qualifying conditions include:

• Cancer, or the treatment of cancer
• Glaucoma, or the treatment of glaucoma
• Positive status for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), or the treatment of HIV
• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), or the treatment of AIDS
• Hepatitis C, or the treatment of Hepatitis C
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) — patients must be 18 years of age or older to qualify on this basis
• A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition, or its treatment, that produces one or more of the following: cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe, debilitating, chronic pain; 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; or agitation related to Alzheimer's disease

4. Holds a written certification from a licensed practitioner, completed on the RIDOH Practitioner Written Certification Form (or, for Autism Spectrum Disorder, the Practitioner Written Certification Form for Use With Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis). Written certifications may be issued by physicians licensed in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, or Connecticut.

5. Is registered with the RIDOH Medical Marijuana Program and holds a valid registry identification card issued through the RI Cannabis Licensing Portal. There is no application or renewal fee for patients, caregivers, or authorized purchasers. A $10 fee applies for replacement cards.

6. Holds a valid registry identification card. (Registration must be renewed annually.)

ENROLLMENT PROCESS

To enroll as a qualifying patient, follow these steps:

Step 1: See a licensed practitioner.

Schedule an appointment with a physician licensed in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, or Connecticut. The practitioner must conduct a complete in-person physical examination. Telehealth evaluations are not permitted for initial certifications. The practitioner will assess your qualifying condition and, if appropriate, complete and sign the Practitioner Written Certification Form. Patients applying on the basis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis must use the Practitioner Written Certification Form for Use With Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis. The practitioner gives you the original, signed form.

Step 2: Gather your documents.

You will need to upload the following to the patient portal:

• Completed and signed Practitioner Written Certification Form (original, scanned)
• Proof of Rhode Island residency (Rhode Island driver's license or Rhode Island State ID)
• A photograph of yourself (no hats or sunglasses)
• If applying for a minor patient: a completed and signed Minor Form from the custodial parent or legal guardian

Step 3: Apply through the RI Cannabis Licensing Portal.

Create an account and submit your application at the RI Cannabis Licensing Portal. Step-by-step directions are available in the RIDOH Cannabis Licensing Portal User Guide. There is no application fee.

Step 4: Wait for approval.

RIDOH approves or denies applications within 35 days of receiving a complete application with all required documents. Applications for patients receiving chemotherapy or eligible for hospice care are expedited and approved within 72 hours; the certifying practitioner must indicate on the certification form that expedited processing is needed. Once approved, your registry identification card will be mailed to you.

PATIENT RENEWAL

Registry identification cards expire one year from the date of issuance.

RIDOH will email a renewal reminder 60 days before your card's expiration date. Renewals are completed through the RI Cannabis Licensing Portal. There is no renewal fee.

A new practitioner evaluation is required at renewal. Follow-up appointments may be conducted via telehealth.

ENROLLING MINOR PATIENTS 

Patients under 18 years of age may be enrolled in the Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Program. The custodial parent or legal guardian must serve as both the primary caregiver and the authorized purchaser for the minor patient. The parent or guardian must complete, sign, and upload a Minor Form along with the patient application. The certifying practitioner must also complete the appropriate written certification form for the minor's qualifying condition.

A registered primary caregiver is a person designated to assist a qualifying patient with the medical use of cannabis.

A Legal Primary Caregiver:

• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Must be a Rhode Island resident
• May assist no more than five qualifying patients
• Must pass a National Criminal Identification Check
• Is designated by the patient through the RI Cannabis Licensing Portal. Caregiver registration is initiated by the patient providing the caregiver's name and email address in the portal.

Rhode Island also recognizes an "authorized purchaser" role, which is distinct from a primary caregiver. An authorized purchaser may assist only one patient with purchasing and receiving cannabis from a compassion center. An authorized purchaser must be at least 21 years of age and pass a National Criminal Identification Check, but is not required to be a Rhode Island resident. An authorized purchaser may not consume cannabis obtained for the patient. A patient may designate one primary caregiver and one authorized purchaser.

For more information, see the Fact Sheet for Medical Marijuana Caregivers and Authorized Purchasers

Compassion Centers

Rhode Island's licensed medical cannabis dispensaries are called "compassion centers." Once your registry identification card is approved, you may purchase cannabis at any licensed compassion center in the state. For a current list of licensed compassion centers, visit the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission.

What to Bring

• Your valid Rhode Island medical cannabis registry identification card
• A government-issued photo ID (Rhode Island driver's license or Rhode Island State ID)
• A list of your current medications (recommended, especially for your first visit)
• Payment for your medicine. Insurance does not cover the cost of medical cannabis. Cash and debit cards are accepted at Rhode Island compassion centers.

Possession Limits

A qualifying patient cardholder may possess:

• Up to 2.5 ounces of dried usable cannabis, or its equivalent amount
• Up to 12 mature cannabis plants and 12 immature plants (seedlings), accompanied by valid medical cannabis plant tags, if registered to cultivate
• Patients and caregivers are limited to 2.5 ounces of usable cannabis every 15 days for purchases at compassion centers

Home Cultivation

Rhode Island registered qualifying patients are permitted to cultivate cannabis for personal medical use. Patients may grow up to 12 mature plants and 12 seedlings. All plants must be cultivated at one indoor location and must have valid plant tags affixed. Patients must indicate on their application whether they plan to cultivate and must register their grow location with the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission. There is no plant tag fee for registered patients.

Two or more cardholders may cultivate cooperatively, subject to the following limits: at a residential location, no more than 10 ounces of usable cannabis, 24 mature plants, and 24 seedlings; at a non-residential location, no more than 10 ounces of usable cannabis, 48 mature plants, and 48 seedlings.

Registered patients may use medical cannabis on private property where the property owner permits it. If you rent your home, check with your landlord before using cannabis on the property.

Cannabis use is not permitted:

• In a car or other motor vehicle
• In any public place
• Anywhere children may be exposed to cannabis smoke
• In or on the grounds of any jail or correctional facility
• In any location where the property owner has prohibited it

Vaping or smoking restrictions

Rhode Island law prohibits smoking or vaping cannabis in any designated non-smoking area or in any public place. No person may consume cannabis in a motor vehicle or in a public place. Patients who smoke or vape cannabis at home should be aware that landlords are not required to permit cannabis consumption or cultivation on rental property.

Rhode Island has an adult-use cannabis program, but registering as a medical cannabis patient still offers important benefits. While the medical program may require additional steps, registration can provide patients and caregivers with added support, stronger protections, and access to medical guidance.

Federal Protections Apply Only to Registered Patients

Some federal protections are now available, but only to patients who are officially registered in their state’s medical cannabis program.

A federal order issued April 28th,2026,  AG Order No. 6754-2026, treats a state medical cannabis certification or registration as similar to a prescription under federal law.  This means that being registered is not just a state requirement; it may also affect whether a patient qualifies for federal protections.

To receive these protections, a patient’s registration must stay active, current, and in good standing. Learn more here.

Legal Protections

A qualifying patient cardholder who possesses a valid registry identification card and cannabis within the limits established by state law shall not be subject to arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any manner under state law solely for the medical use of cannabis.

Privacy Protections

Patient registration records maintained by the RIDOH Medical Marijuana Program are confidential. Law enforcement agencies are limited in their access to program records. The RIDOH Medical Marijuana Program does not publish or share a list of registered patients or certifying practitioners.

Civil Protections:

• Employment: A qualifying patient cardholder may not be denied any right or privilege or be subject to civil penalty or disciplinary action by a business, occupational, or professional licensing board solely for the medical use of cannabis. Employers are not required to accommodate on-site use or intoxication under state law.
• Housing: No landlord may refuse to lease to or otherwise penalize a person solely for their status as a registered cardholder. However, due to safety and welfare concerns for other tenants, the property, and the public, a landlord has discretion not to lease to, or to continue leasing to, a cardholder who cultivates, manufactures, or processes cannabis on the premises.

Keeping the Medical Program Strong:

Enrollment helps demonstrate continued patient need for Rhode Island's medical cannabis program. A strong registry helps protect and sustain the program, supports continued access for patients with serious health needs, and reinforces the importance of maintaining a medical pathway alongside adult-use access.

Rhode Island recognizes valid medical cannabis registry identification cards issued by other states. Visiting patients holding a valid out-of-state registry identification card may purchase medical cannabis from licensed Rhode Island compassion centers.

To purchase at a compassion center as a visiting patient, you must present:

• Your valid out-of-state medical cannabis registry identification card or equivalent documentation issued by your home state's program
• A government-issued photo ID

Visiting patients may possess up to 2.5 ounces of dried usable cannabis, consistent with the possession limits that apply to Rhode Island registered patients. No separate visiting patient application or fee is required. For current guidance, contact the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission.

*UPDATE: AG ORDER NO. 6754-2026 CHANGED FEDERAL CANNABIS LAWS  ON APRIL 28, 2026: Learn more here.

Federal cannabis laws affect far more than whether a patient can access medical cannabis. For decades, federal prohibition has limited protections for medical cannabis patients under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). As a result, patients have often been denied the basic protections that people with other serious health conditions expect in employment, housing, healthcare, and access to federal programs.

Federal prohibition has also affected patients’ access to essential healthcare, housing, and financial support programs, sometimes forcing patients to choose between the medicine they need and the benefits they depend on. It has also created barriers to federal employment, healthcare autonomy, firearm ownership, and other aspects of daily life.

As federal and state cannabis laws change, implementation matters. Advocates must stay vigilant to ensure public agencies, private institutions, employers, housing providers, and healthcare systems update their policies in ways that respect patient rights and protect safe, legal access to medical cannabis.

It is important to stay active, engaged, and informed. Sign up to get ASA updates and learn more about ending patient discrimination. 

Rights and protections for medical cannabis patients are evolving. In some cases, outdated policies may impact how patients are treated. In other cases, like those in the military, policy changes will have to come from Washington, DC. In the case of organ transplants, stigma still plays a role in medical cannabis patients having access to life-saving treatment, even if state laws ban discrimination.  Please use the resources below to better understand patient rights and how to navigate these programs and services.