Could Rhode Island be the next New England state to legalize marijuana? It’s a possibility that seems more likely than ever, given the latest moves toward legalization that have happened in the region. Massachusetts, Rhode Island’s next door neighbor, just opened its first two recreational dispensaries last month, and Vermont became the ninth state to legalize marijuana last July.
Rhode Island has had a medical cannabis program in place since 2006, but bills to legalize marijuana haven’t gained much traction in the state’s General Assembly. However, public sentiment and the changing landscape surrounding legalization — especially in nearby states — could prove to be the combination that ultimately gets legalization off the ground.
The reality is that legal marijuana will be readily available to Rhode Island residents who can easily make the trek to Massachusetts, which seems to be swaying the state’s leadership more toward legalization than ever before. The Providence Journal reports that Gov. Gina Raimondo “remains open to legalization,” so long as there are regulations to keep marijuana away from children. Rhode Island’s House Speaker, Nicholas Mattiello, and Senate President, Dominick J. Ruggerio, have expressed similar sentiments.
But that doesn’t mean legalization in the state will come without facing any opposition. Kevin A. Sabet, president of the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, told the Providence Journal that the state is “definitely a priority” for the organization next year. “If anything, the stakes have gotten higher in terms of the effects of legalization around the country,” he said.
Without a doubt, many eyes will be on Rhode Island’s General Assembly, which is set to convene for the upcoming legislative session next month.