Rhode Island Legalization Act set for early 2022

A law legalizing Rhode Island is expected to be in place in the first quarter of 2022.

Last week, Rhode Island MP and Speaker of the House of Representatives Joe Shekarchi mentioned the progress of a law to legalize cannabis for his state that is about to be introduced.

Shekarchi was featured in an interview with WPRI to talk about the expectation of a fall meeting and the legalization of cannabis that has come and gone without mention. In response, he explained the delay and what remains to be done.

“We’re still not there. We have worked very hard and continue to work. There were many differences in versions between the House of Representatives version, the Senate version and the Governor’s version, ”Shekarchi said. “I’m happy to announce that we almost solved a problem, but it’s not there yet.” He confirmed that he intends to end this loose ending through a meeting he will attend this week so he can legislate in the first quarter of 2022.

He relates to the question of which agency will be responsible for state regulation. Currently, responsibility rests with either an independent cannabis commission, the State Department of Business Regulation (DBR), or possibly a mix of both.

“We study other countries. But the marijuana law in general is a very complicated law, ”he said. “People just say ‘legalize’. It affects very different areas of law. It affects taxation. We have to make sure we’re getting it right. ”

Courtesy of wpri.com

Between the DBR, the Ministry of Health and other agencies, Shekarchi also noted that the legislature is considering a proper erasure plan for inclusion in the bill. “It’s a very big bill. And it’s in a lot of different areas of law, and I want to make sure we’re getting it right. I don’t necessarily want to be the first, I want to be the best. “

In July, Shekarchi stated that a bill on cannabis legislation was just a “viable” option. “Unfairly, sometimes I or the house are blamed for stopping recreational marijuana legalization when in reality there is no consensus,” he said.

“If we can come any closer to each other on the various proposals, then we will pass some kind of laws. But if not, it just takes more work – and it’s very workable, so a lot can happen, we just have to make an effort and get it done. ”Fortunately, lawmakers have helped bring Rhode Island legalization much closer to reality with Shekarchi redeeming a promise of a legalization bill he announced in November 2020.

In June, the Rhode Island Senate also passed a legalization bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey and Health & Human Services Chairman Joshua Miller. “Legalizing cannabis is as much about reconciliation as it is about revenue,” McCaffrey said in a press release.

“The Justice Reinvestment Prison Reform Initiative has shown that a ban policy has had a disproportionate impact on colored communities, and I believe we need to ensure that all efforts to legalize cannabis recognize and correct these abuses,” McCaffrey continued. “Low barriers to entry, extermination reforms and broad access to programs designed to improve access for individuals and communities affected by the failed war on drugs are an important and necessary component.”

However, the state’s medical cannabis program has faced some setbacks recently. A lawsuit delayed the August lottery due to an appeal by a rejected applicant, Atlas Enterprises Inc. It was not until October that the lottery was resumed with five new applicants.
However, the sixth and final pharmacy license is still available as Atlas Enterprises Inc. withdrew the appeal in November. These new medical cannabis pharmacy admissions offices are expected to open sometime in 2022; However, three pharmacies are currently open in Providence, Warwick and Portsmouth. A total of nine pharmacies are allowed in the state as of 2019.