Rhode Island has become the 19th state to legalize recreational cannabis use.
The Rhode Island Cannabis Act allows adult Rhode Islanders age 21 and up to possess (up to one ounce in public or up to 10 ounces at home), home-cultivate (up to six plants, no more than three mature), and purchase limited amounts of cannabis. It also provides for the automatic review and expungement of past criminal records. Under the measure, records must be expunged by July 1, 2024. The Act also provides for an expedited expungement process.
The Act also includes provisions for re-investing tax revenue from cannabis sales into those communities that were previously most harmed by prohibition, as well as programs to aid social equity applicants seeking to enter the market. Rhode Island is allowing 33 licenses for recreational cannabis dispensaries.
Cheers to Rhode Island for making history!