Are you interested in learning more about how to open a dispensary in Rhode Island? On this page, we will keep you up to date on the most recent news and information pertaining to starting a cannabis business in Rhode Island. This page contains valuable insights about what is to come in the following few months. For hands-on guidance, Cannaspire’s Cannabis consultants work with operators at every stage.
On May 25th, 2022, Rhode Island legalized marijuana, making it the nineteenth state to do so. Governor Dan McKee gave the Rhode Island Cannabis Act his signature, making it a law and so legalizing and securely regulating adult recreational use of cannabis in the state.
The Act provides provisions for the automatic expungement of any previous penalties related to marijuana possession. McKee said that the legislation was “equitable, controlled, and safe,” while at the same time building a regulatory structure that places an emphasis on the health and safety of the general public.
Governor Dan McKee announced on November 22, 2022, that five licensed medical marijuana compassion centers had been approved for hybrid retail licenses, allowing them to sell both medical and adult-use cannabis starting December 1, 2022.
On October 4th, 2024, the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) discussed social equity regulations for cannabis retail licenses, focusing on those affected by the war on drugs.
On April 11th, 2025, Rhode Island’s CCC approved its first set of adult-use cannabis regulations. These rules (effective May 1) outline how licenses will be awarded – including criteria for six social equity retail licenses – and clear the way for the state to issue 24 new cannabis retail licenses beyond the existing medical dispensaries. For aspiring cannabis retailers in Rhode Island, this long-awaited move means the application process for new licenses will finally open.
On September 5th, 2025, Rhode Island regulators opened the initial certification process for six social equity cannabis retail licenses. The Cannabis Control Commission’s online portal allows prospective owners to submit eligibility materials, with certification administered by Creative Services, Inc. through September 29th.
On September 12th, 2025, the CCC began accepting applications for 24 new adult-use cannabis retail licenses statewide. Prospective dispensary operators can apply online through late December, with the licenses allocated evenly across six zones and awarded by lottery after an initial qualification screening.
On November 14th, Rhode Island’s Cannabis Control Commission announced that only 36 of 94 pre-applicants for social equity retail cannabis licenses met the eligibility criteria to move forward. Those 36 qualified applicants were officially certified and have until December 29th to submit full applications, after which a lottery will award six new social equity dispensary licenses.
Rhode Island’s cannabis industry represents a strong and expanding market, with $123.3 million in combined retail and wholesale sales from January to September 2025, according to the Rhode Island Office of Cannabis Regulation. Adult-use sales dominate at roughly $8–9 million monthly, peaking at $9.05M in August, while medical sales remain steady at about $1.5–1.7M per month, supported by 7,097 active patients as of September 2025.
Numbers from Statistica.com show that marijuana sales in Rhode Island will reach approximately 167.6 million U.S. dollars by 2025.
In Rhode Island, some municipalities do not permit cannabis anywhere. Others enable it only under particular conditions, such as requiring a special use permit in certain circumstances.
In November 2022, residents of 31 cities and towns were asked to vote on whether cannabis businesses would be permitted in their communities. However, the proposal was rejected by Barrington, East Greenwich, Jamestown, Little Compton, Scituate and Smithfield, meaning that cannabis retailers will not be allowed to operate in those areas.
On the other hand, the referendum was approved by the following municipalities: Bristol, Burrillville, Charlestown, Coventry, Cumberland, East Providence, Glocester, Hopkinton, Johnston, Lincoln, Middletown, Narragansett, Newport, New Shoreham, North Kingstown, North Providence, North Smithfield, Richmond, South Kingstown, Tiverton, Warren, Westerly, West Greenwich, West Warwick, and Woonsocket.
It’s worth noting that the municipalities that didn’t hold a vote will allow cannabis businesses to operate in their areas.
In this section, we’ll keep you up to date on all important changes in Rhode Island’s 39 municipalities, including their respective positions, limits, and outright prohibitions on recreational cannabis.
In addition to municipal votes on cannabis businesses, Rhode Island imposes zoning rules for dispensary locations. Retail sites must comply with local zoning codes, and many municipalities apply buffer requirements, such as minimum distances from schools, childcare centers, or places of worship. Prospective operators should review both state regulations and local ordinances to ensure compliance before securing a location.
In 2006, Rhode Island became the eleventh state to legalize medical marijuana. The Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act were passed in 2005, with a 52-10 vote in the state House and a 33-1 vote in the state Senate. In-state patients possessing a Rhode Island registry ID card can consume, possess, and cultivate cannabis. Registered patients are allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of usable cannabis and grow up to 12 plants. The full text of the bill can be viewed here.
An individual may be eligible to register as a medical marijuana patient if he or she suffers from a qualifying debilitating condition such as cancer, glaucoma, or HIV. You may check the full list of approved conditions by visiting this website.
There are three types of cannabis business licenses issued in Rhode Island:
Compassion centers, cultivators, and cooperative cultivations are all subject to licensing and regulatory oversight by the Department of Business Regulation (DBR) Office of Cannabis Regulation, which is also in charge of overseeing medical marijuana plant tagging requirements under the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act.
No new applications for medicinal marijuana business licenses are being accepted in Rhode Island.
On March 1st, 2022, Sen. Josh Miller and Rep. Scott Slater submitted a pair of proposals (2022-S 2430, 2022-H 7593), which were identical to one another, in order to legalize cannabis for individuals over the age of 21 in Rhode Island. In May of 2022, the General Assembly approved an amended version of the legislation, which then went on to be signed into law by Governor Dan McKee.
On May 25th, 2022, the state of Rhode Island became the 19th state to legalize adult-use cannabis, as stated above. After a 32-6 Senate vote and a 55-16 House vote, Gov. Dan McKee signed the Rhode Island Cannabis Act to legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis. You may read the whole text of the legislation here.
The Act creates a variety of licensing categories, which are provided below.
Applicants must submit a variety of documents and operational narratives to qualify for a dispensary license in Rhode Island. Under the state’s regulations, these typically include a business or financial plan demonstrating capitalization and long-term viability, a security and safety plan detailing facility security equipment, cash handling procedures, and standard operating procedures, and an operations manual with policies for recordkeeping, staffing, inventory tracking, and compliance.
Additionally, evidence of site control (such as property ownership or lease agreements) and local zoning or municipal approval is generally required, along with corporate formation documents (articles of incorporation, organizational charts, ownership disclosures).
For application writing and support, Cannaspire provides comprehensive cannabis licensing guidance.
To apply for a dispensary license in Rhode Island, you must submit a complete application to the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) during an official open application period. Applicants can apply for one of four license types: Standard Retail, Social Equity, Workers’ Cooperative, or Hybrid, and must meet all requirements, pay applicable fees, and pass regulatory review before receiving approval.
The application process can be complex; ensure your submission is competitive by working with Cannaspire’s Rhode Island Cannabis Consultants.
The cost depends on the type of retail license you apply for:
Retail Cannabis License Costs (Rhode Island):
Adult-use cannabis retailers in Rhode Island are subject to a three-part tax structure:
Medical cannabis sales are treated differently: they are exempt from the adult-use excise taxes but still subject to the 7% sales tax. In addition, licensed compassion centers must pay a 4% surcharge on gross medical cannabis sales.
For dispensary operators, these taxes are in addition to other costs of doing business. Annual license fees, compliance obligations, and operating expenses like staffing, security, insurance, and seed-to-sale tracking systems must also be factored into ongoing budgets.
As the state’s cannabis program develops, we will keep you updated on all relevant news and legislation affecting the opening of a dispensary in Rhode Island. By subscribing to our Rhode Island Cannabis Mailing List (Below), we will keep you informed of all important news and comments pertaining to Rhode Island Legalization. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: Our cannabis compliance experts turn day-one compliance into a lasting advantage.
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