How To Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Rhode Island

The legalization of the usage of medical marijuana in the state was done way back in 2006 via the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act. It is worth noting that in May 2022, recreational marijuana became legal within the state, while its sales started in December 2022.

While recreational marijuana users must be 21 years or older, those with a medical card will have an easier time, in that they get a chance to grow marijuana at home, enjoy exemption from taxation, and use the herb even at 18 years old.

The RIDOH is tasked with managing patient registration through the Rhode Island Cannabis Licensing Portal, while the DBR Office of Cannabis Regulation manages cultivation, compassion centers, and caregiver grows.

• RIDOH website: health.ri.gov/medical-marijuana 
• Patient portal: Rhode Island Cannabis Licensing Portal 
• DBR phone number: 401-889-5607 

For someone to qualify for medical marijuana in Rhode Island, he/she should:

• Be a Rhode Island citizen with proof of residence.
• Be 18 years or older (minors are eligible under some circumstances).
• Have a qualifying disease that has been diagnosed by a qualified health practitioner practicing in Rhode Island.

Felony convictions are not a bar for the applicants, but there are restrictions on caregivers and individuals who buy cannabis on behalf of the sick.

Rhode Island acknowledges medical doctor, osteopathic physician, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant credentials issued in Rhode Island, as well as medical doctor and osteopathic physician credentials issued in Connecticut or Massachusetts. All practitioners must create a bona fide practitioner-patient relationship.

Note: The first visit must be face-to-face because a physical examination is required. Follow-up visits may be conducted via telemedicine.

Rhode Island recognizes 13 qualifying conditions. These include:

• Alzheimer’s disease (agitation)
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Cancer
• Chronic pain
• Crohn’s disease and severe persistent muscle spasms (including those related to multiple sclerosis)
• Glaucoma
• HIV/AIDS
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Severe nausea
• Seizures (including epilepsy)
• Any other chronic or debilitating condition with severe pain

New conditions can be included by the patients themselves; PTSD was included in 2016, and Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2018. Expedited Process: Patients under chemotherapy and hospice eligibility are entitled to an expedited process; this is endorsed by the attending physician within 72 hours.

Step 1: Schedule an In-Person Physician Appointment

Seek out a licensed professional and schedule an appointment for a physical exam. Should you qualify to receive the aid, the practitioner will duly sign and fill out the Practitioner Written Certification Form, giving you the original copy.

In case your medical condition is ASD, then you are required to fill out the ASD Practitioner Written Certification Form.

Step 2: Create an Account on the RI Cannabis Licensing Portal

Go to the Rhode Island Cannabis Licensing Portal and register your patient profile. Upon registration, log in to the portal and apply for the use of medical marijuana.

Step 3: Upload Required Documents

During your application, upload the following:

• Proof of Residency in Rhode Island – RI Driver’s License or State Identification card; if you have a different address on the ID card, then a second document is required, like a car registration or voter registration.
• Practitioner Written Certification Form that is signed and completed
• Form for ASD certification
• Minor Consent Form completed and signed by custodial parent or legal guardian

Step 4: Pay the Application Fee and Wait

Patient registration fee – $50; Caregiver Card fee – $25 (not refundable).

Caregiver cards will be sent out within 35 days after application processing. Expedited requests (chemotherapy, hospice patients) will be issued within 72 hours. Valid for one year from the date of issue.

Use your card to make purchases from any one of the six legally operating Compassion Centers across Rhode Island.

Possession Limits

Medical users are entitled to having up to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana at once. Medical marijuana patients enjoy lower taxes on their purchase compared to recreational users.

Home Cultivation

For registered patients, the growing limit is 12 marijuana plants inside a residence. To start, mark the growing intention on the application, register your growing site with the DBR (401-889-5607), and get a Plant Tag Certificate, which comes in bundles of two (one for a mature plant and the other for the seedling) up to 12 bundles per year. No growth shall occur outside or inside a greenhouse, or even outdoors; all should be inside an enclosed structure.

Authorized Purchasers – A Unique Rhode Island Feature

An alternative arrangement provided by Rhode Island to that of caregivers involves getting an authorized purchaser to buy the marijuana at compassion centers (they cannot grow marijuana). The authorized purchaser assists just one patient, just like the caregivers.

The caregivers must be at least 21 years old, residents of the state of Rhode Island, and have a clear NCIC record, since felonies associated with drugs are grounds for disqualification from serving as a caregiver. The caregiver can help a maximum of five patients, and can also grow marijuana plants for them if plant tags are used.

Medical marijuana patients from other states can use their cards in Rhode Island. Visitors with an active medical card from another state will be able to buy cannabis products at the Rhode Island Compassion Centers using their home state’s card and photo identification.

The validity period of the card is one year. The Rhode Island Department of Health sends out renewal reminders through email two months before the expiration of the card. The renewal process is similar to applying online and requires the patient to pay the $50 fee.

• In-person examination is required; telemedicine is used only for renewals
• Certificates issued by physicians licensed in Connecticut or Massachusetts
• Priority processing in 72 hours for patients undergoing chemotherapy or hospice treatment
• A patient fee of $50 and a caregiver fee of $25
• Card sent by mail in approximately 35 days
• Up to 12 plants can be grown using a Plant Tag Certification issued by the DBR
• Gardening outdoors or in greenhouses is not allowed
• Distinguishing dual role: caregiver and authorized purchaser
• Out-of-state medical marijuana cards are valid in Rhode Island Compassion Centers