Rhode Island: now allowing out of state medical marijuana cards

In July of 2018, Rhode Island expanded compassion center access to medical marijuana patients across state lines. At that time, the state’s MMJ regulatory body outlined regulations for sales to non-residents:

-Dispensaries must use “reasonably good-faith efforts” to verify non-resident medical marijuana ID cards by asking for a second form of government-issued photo ID.

-Non-resident patients must be entered in a state database that tracks sales.

-Non-resident patients are limited to how much cannabis they can buy – 2.5 ounces of marijuana or its equivalent in other forms every 15 days.

While Canna Care Docs is in full support of expanding access to out of state patients traveling through the Ocean State, the spirit of the regulations has been misinterpreted, putting some medical cannabis patients at risk of possessing a fraudulent medical cannabis certification. Patients who are lured by the notion of receiving instant California certifications, without having to demonstrate California residency, are in violation of medical cannabis law. There are reported incidents of revocation of these “out of state cards” putting cardholders in legal harm’s way. Plus, an inability to compliantly access one of the three State compassion centers, and a financial loss of the initial certification cost.

Canna Care Docs urges potential patients to use good judgement when choosing a medical cannabis provider. While an inexpensive and speedy certification may seem like the best pathway to gain access to a compassion center, the ramifications of doing so may cost more in the long term. Feel free to phone our patient contact center at 781-382-8053 with any questions. We are here to guide you through your journey compliantly.