New Rhode Island Retail Licenses Not Ready Until 2026— Too Long For Some Applicants
October 23, 2025
Applicants who’ve already navigated local approvals object to 60-day window state regulators tacked on to timeline
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
“We do not just plan to stand out amongst other Rhode Island [cannabis] retailers, but Massachusetts retailers as well.”
An interview about licensing, the RI dispensary lottery, zoning, competition, and more with Johnny Moretti of Aura Cannabis
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
Misinformed legislation would hand control of hemp beverage sales to liquor stores and cannabis dispensaries, excluding the farms that built the state’s hemp market.
“I think we are going to see a large chunk of states start to really put this movement under a microscope—and hopefully take an optimistic approach in seeking ways to usher in and guide this industry rather than stymie.”
A symphony of fruity flavors that makes for a splendid daytime concentrate
