Where Can Cannabis Stores Open In RI After 2022 Election?

RHODE ISLAND — Residents in 31 Rhode Island cities and towns weren't only voting for governor, U.S. Congress and local races. They also decided if recreational cannabis businesses will be allowed to open in the communities where they live.

In May, Gov. Dan McKee signed a bill legalizing the use of recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older. The bill also allows adults to grow cannabis, paves the way for retail dispensaries to open and expunges past conviction for possession charges.

The question on the ballot read, "Shall new cannabis-related licenses for businesses involved in the cultivation, manufacture, laboratory testing and for the retail sale of adult recreational use cannabis be issued in the city (or town)?"

The ballot question passed in the following Rhode Island communities:

• Bristol
• Burrillville
• Charlestown
• Coventry
• Cumberland
• East Providence
• Glocester
• Hopkinton
• Johnston
• Lincoln
• Middletown
• Narragansett
• New Shoreham
• North Kingstown
• North Providence
• North Smithfield
• Richmond
• South Kingstown
• Tiverton
• Warren
• Westerly
• West Greenwich
• West Warwick
• Woonsocket

It failed in Barrington, East Greenwich, Jamestown, Little Compton, Scituate and Smithfield, meaning opening recreational cannabis retailers in town is now banned.

Cities and towns that did not hold a vote on the matter will allow recreational cannabis businesses to open.

But even if a municipality voted yes, that doesn't necessarily mean a recreational dispensary will open there. Under McKee's bill, recreational sales will be allowed to start at existing medical cannabis dispensaries first. Future stores have not yet been allowed to be proposed, and the state set a limit on 33 recreational dispensaries statewide.

The law also created a 3 percent local tax on cannabis sales, which will go directly to the communities where marijuana is sold.