Rhode Island becomes the 19th U.S. state to legalize cannabis

Rhode Island's Democratic governor, Dan McKee, signed the bill to legalize cannabis for adults in the state on Wednesday, just one day after it was approved by the Legislature. Rhode Island is the 19th U.S. state to legalize cannabis for adults.

«This bill successfully integrates our priorities of ensuring that cannabis legalization is fair, controlled and safe,» said the governor at the signing ceremony.

Under this measure, adults aged 21 and over will be able to purchase and possess up to one ounce of cannabis (28 grams) and keep 10 ounces at home for personal use. Adults can also grow up to six plants at home, including three in bloom and three in growth. The state will license 33 retailers in six zones and impose an excise tax of 10 %, as well as the state's sales tax of 7 % and a tax of 3 % to be returned to municipalities.

The legislation also includes provisions automatic expungement of criminal records, giving the courts until July 1, 2024 to grant a reprieve to all those eligible. Any previous civil violations, misdemeanors or convictions for cannabis possession, which would now be legal, will be automatically erased from court record systems as part of this reform.

A preliminary fiscal note on the bill estimated that first-year sales - from 2023 to 2024 - would reach $14 million in new revenue for Rhode Island, with cities and towns receiving around $2.5 million, the report said.

Over $5 million would be used to administer the program, according to the memo; however, the bill adopted by the legislature did not include tax estimates and assumed that sales would start on October 1, whereas they are scheduled for December 1.