Certain Drug Charges No Longer A Felony In Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, RI — Certain drug possession charges are no longer felonies in Rhode Island, under a bill ceremonially signed into law by Gov. Dan McKee this week.

"This legislation is about breaking the cycle and getting help for those suffering from addiction," McKee said. "It’s a matter of public health to allow individuals to get treatment, not prison time. We are giving Rhode Islanders the opportunity to lead meaningful lives, and that is something we can all support."

The new law changes simple possession of 10 grams or fewer of a controlled substance for personal use to a misdemeanor, punishable by two years in prison. Previously, this charge was a felony.

Attorney General Peter Neronha, a champion of the legislation, said he believed that possessing small amounts of drugs for personal use is "much more of a public health issue than a law enforcement one."

"Over-criminalizing such conduct diverted our law enforcement focus away from where it plainly belongs: on the drug traffickers who profit in dealing misery to others and who often engage in the violence that regularly comes with drug dealing," Neronha said. "Make no mistake, we are as committed as we have ever been to prosecuting drug dealers as felons – and this new law does nothing to protect them. But those who simply possess drugs – who are addicted and cannot escape the cycle of addiction – faced barriers to employment, housing, and other opportunities to turn their lives around because they had a felony hanging around their neck."

McKee ceremonially signed the bill into law at Project Weber/RENEW, a nonprofit organization that provides recovery support, harm reduction and other services to at-risk Rhode Islanders.

"People suffering from addiction need treatment, not prison," Sen. Michael McCaffrey said at the bill signing. "As we better understand addiction and rehabilitation, we must modernize draconian sentencing laws to more effectively address substance use disorders. This legislation shifts the paradigm for combating addiction away from crime and punishment and towards treatment. Branding individuals as felons because of an addition only creates additional barriers to their successful recovery."