PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island appears a step closer to becoming the next state to legalize recreational marijuana use.
On Tuesday, two key lawmakers in the House and the Senate introduced identical legislation that resolved a major impediment to passage last year: They defined who would regulate the new industry.
The legislation creates an independent three-member cannabis control commission, which would eventually also assume oversight of the state’s medical marijuana program, currently overseen by the Department of Business Regulation. It also establishes a cannabis advisory board and a cannabis office within the DBR.
The Senate last year approved a version of legalization that called for a similar commission, but a House bill kept control of the retail market within the DBR.
How many marijuana dispensaries could there be?
The new legislation allows for up to 33 retail licenses distributed in six zones statewide, including at nine medical marijuana dispensaries that could be hybrid recreational and medical retailers.
Community leaders considering opting out of hosting a retail dispensary would have to place the question before voters on the November ballot. Those communities voting to opt out would be ineligible for any tax revenue from marijuana sales.
How much marijuana could be bought, and how would it be taxed?
The bill establishes a 10% state cannabis excise tax in addition to the 7% sales tax, plus a 3% local tax for the community hosting a retail center. [Read More @ The Providence Journal]
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