Marijuana retailers prepare for recreational sales in Rhode Island
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — Rhode Island remains on track to start selling marijuana without a prescription by Dec. 1.
Gov. Dan McKee signed the Rhode Island Cannabis Act into law on May 25, making it legal for adults 21 years old and older to carry and grow small quantities of pot at home.
The Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center in Providence, which already sells marijuana to patients fighting an illness, will soon be able to sell to the public.
“The Slater Center looks forward to the start of adult use sales on Dec. 1 and we plan to submit our application to the Office of Cannabis Regulations as soon as it’s available,” said Chris Riley, spokesperson.
The governor's office said Slater is eligible by statute to apply for a hybrid license, which is expected to be available by the end of next week. The application will be approved or denied by the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation.
The Solar Cannabis Company, based in Massachusetts, was one of the companies picked in a lottery to build a medical and recreational pot store in Warwick.
“It’s awesome. It’s been a long process. It's been a different sort of process, but we’re very excited to get going,” said Edward Dow, CEO of Solar Cannabis Co.
The governor's office said Solar is currently going through the process to obtain a medial marijuana license and once that’s complete the company can then apply for a hybrid license, allowing it to sell cannabis products to individuals without a prescription.
But the Ocean State is a long way from having multiple cannabis stores like you’ll find across the state line in Massachusetts.
The law signed by Gov. McKee in May requires him to nominate three members to a new cannabis commission, which he hasn’t done yet. State legislators, who need to approve his picks, won’t be taking action until they return to the State House in January.