In accordance with the 2022 adoption of the Rhode Island Cannabis Act (“RICA”) (R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 21-28.11) and the 2022 amendments to the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act (“Medical Marijuana Act”) (R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 21-28.6), the Commission has proposed the adoption of 560-RICR-10-15-1 as part of the transition of the cannabis regulatory program from the Department of Business Regulation (“DBR”) to the Commission.
This regulation establishes requirements for registered primary caregivers and their registry identification cards. It provides caregiver possession limits and manufacturing prohibitions. It also provides for medical cannabis home grows, home grow certificates and adult use personal cultivation limits.
Here is a summary of the regulation:
§ 1.3 – The existing caregiver registry identification card requirements have been updated consistent with 2022 amendments to the Medical Marijuana Act which removed all registration fees. These requirements are largely consistent with the current operations of DBR’s Office of Cannabis Regulation (“OCR”).
§§ 1.4 & 1.5 – Medical Cannabis Home Grow Certificate Program is an updated and simplified version of DBR’s plant tag program provisions consistent with 2022 amendments to the Medical Marijuana Act which removed all fees for plant tags. To distinguish between the old program and the new, this is now called “Home Grow Certificates.” These provisions codify the existing practice of OCR and will not result in significant changes for patients and caregivers already participating in the home grow program.
§ 1.6 – The Adult Use Personal Cultivation provisions build off the statutory requirements in R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-28.11-22 and apply similar public safety, security and nuisance avoidance requirements for adult use home grows that have been in place under the medical program. Adult Use home grows are permitted by law and no registration with the Commission will be required.
A public hearing will be held on Friday, January 24, 2025, at 1 p.m. at the Public Utilities Commission, 89 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI 02886.
Note: All public comments received on any Commission regulation are considered public records and will not be redacted for personal information. If you do not want your personal information to become public, do not include that information with your public comment.
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