Rhode Island

Rhode Island

17,994 Registered Patient Population

1.69% of Total Population Represented by Patients

3 Total Medical Retail Locations Currently in Operation

5,998 : 1 Patients : Retail

In-state patients with a Rhode Island registry ID card may use, possess and cultivate cannabis. Patients may possess up to 2.5 ounces of usable cannabis and may cultivate up to 12 plants. Patients may appoint up to two primary caregivers for assistance or designate a compassion center. Rhode Island allows any patient with a valid medical cannabis card in physical form to purchase from in state dispensaries. Patients report that the limited number of dispensaries in the state as their main barrier to access.

Patient Rights and Civil Protection	84/100
Arrest Protection 40/40 Affirmative Defense 15/15 Parental Rights Protections 5/10 DUI Protections 0/5 Employment Protections 4/5 Explicit Privacy Standards 7/7 Housing Protections 5/5 Does Not Create New Criminal Penalties for Patients 5/5 Organ Transplants 0/5 Reciprocity 3/3
Access to Medicine	81/100
Allows Distribution Programs 28/40 – Allows Access to Dried Flowers 15/15 – Allows Delivery 5/5 – No Sales Tax or Reasonable Sales Tax 4/5 – Allows for a Reasonable Number of Dispensaries 3/5 – Does Not Require Vertical Integration 0/2 – Ownership/Employment Restrictions 1/2 – Provisions for Labor Standards 0/2 – Environmental Impact Regulations 0/2 – Choice of Dispensary Without Restrictions 0/2 Noncommercial Cultivation 16/20 – Personal Cultivation 15/15 – Collective Gardening 1/5 Explicit Right to Edibles/Concentrates/Other Forms 9/10 Does not Impose Bans or Limits on THC 10/10 Does not Impose Bans on CBD 10/10 Local Bans/Zoning 8/10
Ease of Navigation	85/100
Comprehensive Qualifying Conditions 45/50 Adding New Conditions 6/10 – Law/Regulations Allow for New Conditions 5/5 – System Works for Adding New Conditions 1/5 Reasonable Access for Minors 9/10 Reasonable Caregiver Background Checks 3/4 Number of Caregivers 2/2 Patient/Practitioner-Focused Task Force or Advisory Board 0/2 Reasonable Fees (Patients and Caregivers) 8/10 Allows Multiple-Year Registrations 2/2 Reasonable Physician Requirements 5/5 Does Not Classify Cannabis as a Medicine of Last Resort 5/5
Functionality	83/100
Patients Able to Access Medicine at Dispensaries or by Cultivation 45/50 No Significant Administrative or Supply Problems 11/15 Patients Can Receive Legal Protections Within Reasonable Time Frame of Doctor's Recommendation 9/10 Reasonable Possession Limits 4/5 Reasonable Purchase Limits 4/5 Allows Patients to Medicate Where They Choose 4/5 Covered by Insurance/State Health Aid 0/3 Financial Hardship (Fee Waivers/Discount Medicine) 6/7
Consumer Safety and Provider Requirements	35.13/100
Dispensing 10/25 Staff Training 5/5 Standard Operating Procedures 3/5 – Facility Sanitary Conditions 0/1.25 – Storage Protocols 1/1.25 – Reasonable Security Protocols 1/1.25 – Inventory Control 1/1.25 Recall Protocol and Adverse Event Reporting 1/5 Product Labeling 1/5 – Product Contents, Including Source Material Identification 1/1.67 – Allergens 0/1.67 – Potency/Compound Identification 0/1.67 Required Testing 0/5 – Active Compound Identification 0/1.67 – Contaminants 0/1.67 – Potency 0/1.67 Grow/Cultivation 9.13/25 Staff Training 5/5 Standard Operating Procedures 2.13/5 – Facility and Equipment Sanitary Conditions 0/0.71 – Workforce Safety Protocols 0/0.71 – Storage Protocols (Short-Term and Long-Term Storage) 0.71/0.71 – Reasonable Security Protocols 0.71/0.71 – Batch and Lot Tracking 0.71/0.71 – Disposal/Waste 0/0.71 – Water Management 0/0.71 Pesticide Guidance 0/5 – Pesticide Guidance 0/2.5 – Pesticide Labeling 0/2.5 Required Testing 2/5 – Active Ingredient Identification 1/1.25 – Contaminants 0/1.25 – Potency 1/1.25 – Sample Retention 0/1.25 Recall Protocol and Adverse Event Reporting 0/5 Manufacturing 12/25 Staff Training 5/5 Standard Operating Procedures 3/5 – Facility and Equipment Sanitary Conditions 0/1 – Workforce Safety Protocols 0/1 – Storage Protocols 1/1 – Reasonable Security Protocols 1/1 – Batch and Lot Tracking 1/1 Product Labeling 2/5 – Product Contents, Including Source Material Identification 1/1.67 – Allergens 0/1.67 – Potency and Compound Information 1/1.67 Required Testing 2/5 – Active Ingredient Identification 1/1 – Contaminants 0/1 – Potency 1/1 – Shelf Life Testing 0/1 – Sample Retention 0/1 Recall Protocol and Adverse Event Reporting 0/5 Laboratory Operations 4/25 Staff Training 2/5 Method Validation in Accordance with AHP Guidelines 0/5 Result Reporting 0/5 Independent or Third Party 2/5 Standard Operating Procedures and Protocols 0/5 – Equipment and Instrument Calibration 0/0.83 – Sample Tracking 0/0.83 – Facility and Equipment Sanitary Conditions 0/0.83 – Disposal/Waste 0/0.83 – Storage Protocols 0/0.83 – Workforce Safety Protocols 0/0.83
Covid Response	20/20
Delivery Available? 6/6 Curbside Pickup Available? 2/2 Medical Cannabis Essential? 7/7 Telemedicine Available? 5/5
Excerpted from ASA's 2020 State of the States Report.

Becoming a Patient in Rhode Island

Recommending Cannabis in Rhode Island

History of Medical Cannabis in Rhode Island

Policy Recommendations Rhode Island