Rhode Island is a limited license state and has licensing caps within its medical cannabis framework. Initially the state was limited to only issuing six (6) compassion center licenses. As of 2021, this number has been expanded to nine (9).

Rhode Island distributes medical cannabis licenses through a qualified lottery system.

Rhode Island’s medical use framework disqualifies applicants for cannabis licensure on the basis of certain convictions. An applicant will not be granted a license if they have been convicted of a felony drug offense.  A license may be granted if the offense was for a medical marijuana offense prior to the legalization of medical cannabis that the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater medical marijuana act would otherwise have protected from a conviction.

Rhode Islands’ medical sector has restrictions disqualifying potential employees with certain convictions. A job seeker will not be granted the  required employee registry identification card if they have been convicted of a felony drug offense. A registry identification card may be granted if the offense was for cannabis offense prior to the legalization of medical cannabis that  the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater medical marijuana act would otherwise have protected from a conviction.

Rhode Island offers record cleaning remedies for certain cannabis convictions, however, this process is not automatic and requires action from the individual. Qualified individuals may ask the court for an expungement five (5) years after completing a sentence for a misdemeanor conviction and ten (10) years after completing a sentence for a felony conviction. A person may immediately file a motion for the expungement of records related to an offense that has been decriminalized subsequent to the date of their conviction, such as certain cannabis convictions.