Rhode Island Cannabis Laws & Dispensary Compliance Guide
Last reviewed: June 14, 2026
Dutchie does not provide compliance advice. Merchants are responsible for their own compliance. External Dutchie compliance documentation may be updated from time to time and has been prepared for informational purposes only, is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or compliance advice. Merchants should consult their own tax, legal and compliance advisors to determine how best to operate within the cannabis industry.
Market Type
In Rhode Island, cannabis is regulated by the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), the standalone regulatory body established under the Rhode Island Cannabis Act. Medical and adult-use cannabis is allowed. Rhode Island also allows out-of-state medical patients to purchase medical cannabis as long as they have a valid medical marijuana card, or its equivalent.
Metrc & Inventory
Rhode Island uses Metrc as their seed-to-sale state traceability system. Rhode Island operates a hybrid model: medical and adult-use cannabis inventory do not share one inventory and instead are kept separate from each other at retail per §2.12(D).
Purchase Limits
Adult-use
A customer may purchase the following:
- 1 oz or the equivalent
Medical
- 2.5 Oz every 15 days
Rhode Island uses a system of flower equivalencies in their medical purchase limit calculation for other product types.
|
Marijuana Flower Weight |
Equivalent Number of 10mgs of THC |
|
Single Serving Units |
|
|
5 ounces |
415 THC single serving units |
|
2.5 ounces |
125 THC single serving units |
|
1 ounce |
83 THC single serving units |
|
.25 ounces |
21 THC single serving units |
|
1 gram |
3 THC single serving units |
|
Marijuana Flower Weight |
Equivalent grams of Concentrate |
|
5 ounces |
38.5 grams |
|
2.5 ounces |
19.25 grams |
|
1 ounce |
7.7 grams |
|
.25 ounces |
1.9 grams |
|
1 gram |
0.3 grams |
|
Wet Flower Weight |
Dry Flower Weight (20% of Wet Flower Weight) |
|
50 ounces |
10 ounces |
|
37.5 ounces |
7.5 ounces |
|
25 ounces |
5 ounces |
|
12.5 ounces |
2.5 ounces |
Taxes
Adult-use
- 7% State Retail Sales Tax
- 10% State Excise Tax
- 3% Local Excise Tax
(taxes are not compounding)
Excise taxes are not imposed on accessories unless bundled with marijuana if sold for one price
Medical
- 7% State Retail Sales Tax
- 4% Monthly Surcharge (paid by medical dispensaries to the state, equal to 4% of their net patient revenue)
Delivery
Adult-use and medical dispensaries may conduct deliveries.
Payment
- All home deliveries must be paid in advance or through electronic payment at the time of delivery. Non-electronic forms of payment are not permitted.
- Tipping is not permitted.
Delivery Operations
- Deliveries are only permitted between the hours of 8 A.M. and 8 P.M.
- Delivery vehicles may contain no more than $7500 worth of Marijuana products.
Things to Note
Adult-use dispensaries/hybrid operators may advertise including, but not limited to online media, broadcast media, print and outdoor media including billboards. However certain components must be included:
- The required universal symbol in color;
- Cannabis establishment license number of the licensee; and
- “For Ages 21+ and medical cannabis patients.”
- Hybrid retail licensees are encouraged to ensure that the selected advertising medium targets an audience of which 85% of the population is reasonably expected to be 21 years of age or older and shall adhere to the below requirements.
