For the first time ever, an adult cannabis use bill is being passed in the Rhode Island General Assembly

By Andrew Ward

On Monday afternoon, the Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee approved a law on the use of cannabis by adults.

The bill, expected to reach the Senate today (Tuesday), is the first of three bills to go through the legislative process.

Photo by Flickr user Taber Andrew Bain

Governor Dan McKee tabled his version earlier during his annual budget proposal. A bill proposed by Rep. Scott Slater and several co-sponsors was tabled in late May.

As Marijuana Moment notes, the bill’s approval comes days after House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi hinted that legalization will likely have to wait until summer or fall for discussion.

Governor McKee is expected to sign the legalization bill when it reaches his desk.

Billing highlights

If passed, the bill would create an independent commission to oversee programs and licenses. The approved proposal comes after state senators received feedback from attorneys and communities who had concerns about how many stores they would have to host.

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To address the latter problem, revisions have been made to limit retail licenses to one for every 20,000 residents in the city. Each parish is allowed at least three retail permits unless they waive the marketplace.

Add photo of weed via Unsplash

The proposed law would temporarily limit cultivation licenses to around 60 by 2023.

The bill also aims at social justice. According to the guidelines presented, a third of all retail licenses would be reserved for those disproportionately affected by the drug war.

The stated number of reserved permits adds a specialty to the previously proposed plan, while maintaining the Social Justice Fund of the original bill.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and was republished with permission.