This bill amends Section 21-28.11-10.1 of the Rhode Island General Laws, specifically "The Rhode Island Cannabis Act," to outline the transitional period and transfer of authority regarding the regulation of cannabis. It introduces a transitional period during which the office of cannabis regulation will prescribe forms, procedures, and requirements necessary to facilitate the acquisition of hybrid retail and cultivation licenses by compassion centers and cultivators. These requirements include, but are not limited to, physical premises arrangements, inventory and sales tracking, maintenance of medical marijuana program service levels, operating plans, and advertising regulations. Notably, the bill allows for hybrid cannabis cultivators to advertise cannabis products during this transitional period.

The bill also details the transfer of regulatory and enforcement authority from various departments to the commission or the cannabis office upon the final issuance of the commission's rules and regulations. This includes the transfer of powers from the department of business regulation, the department of environmental management, and the department of health, with certain exceptions. The bill specifies that upon the final issuance of the commission's rules, the term "office of cannabis regulation" in any general law or regulation will be replaced with "cannabis office." The act is set to take effect upon passage. Insertions in the bill include the phrase "and hybrid cannabis cultivators who have been permitted to cultivate adult use cannabis" in relation to advertising regulations. There are no deletions indicated in the provided text.

Statutes affected:
7505: 21-28.11-10.1