Over 60% Of Rhode Island Social Equity Applicants Disqualified
November 24, 2025
Short one member, RI Cannabis Control Commission continues its work screening cannabis retail license hopefuls
Short one member, RI Cannabis Control Commission continues its work screening cannabis retail license hopefuls
The provision closes a loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill that legalized hemp but inadvertently paved the way for the proliferation of hemp-derived THC products
Applicants who’ve already navigated local approvals object to 60-day window state regulators tacked on to timeline
Rules require applicants to first be screened to ensure they meet qualifications before being placed in a lottery held in each of six designated geographic zones
Commission awaits findings of a THC drink study mandated by General Assembly
The applicant who won the license in 2021 faced pushback from local zoning officials and eventually withdrew its application
THC drinks derived from hemp were illegal in Rhode Island until last August 2024, when the state began allowing low levels of delta-9 THC
“It’s awesome that this finally happened — we’ve been waiting years for this.”
The public has 30 days to comment on proposed rules that will govern a recreational market beyond seven previously authorized medical marijuana dispensaries in the Ocean State
The state’s 24 retail licenses can’t be awarded until new rules are finalized, leaving many cultivators watching, waiting and worrying
