2016 -- S 2420

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LC004368

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS - TAXATION AND REGULATION OF MARIJUANA

     Introduced By: Senators Miller, McCaffrey, Ruggerio, Kettle, and Metts

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 21 of the General Laws entitled "FOOD AND DRUGS" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 28.9

MARIJUANA REGULATION, CONTROL, AND TAXATION ACT

     21-28.9-1. Short title. -- This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Marijuana

Regulation, Control, and Taxation Act."

     21-28.9-2. Legislative findings. -- The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:

     (1) Prohibiting the cultivation and sale of marijuana to adults has proven to be an

ineffective, unfair, and costly policy for the state of Rhode Island. In the absence of a legal,

tightly regulated market, an illicit marijuana industry has thrived, undermining the public health

and safety of Rhode Islanders.

     (2) Virtually every objective scientific study has found marijuana to be less harmful to

the consumer and society than is alcohol. There is no evidence that marijuana use contributes to

criminality or violence, but the policy of marijuana prohibition, which leaves criminals in control

of the market, does.

     (3) Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska have each enacted measures to regulate

marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol. These states have chosen to replace illegal marijuana

dealers with legitimate, taxpaying businesses.

     (4) In Colorado, after more than two (2) years of allowing licensed retail stores to sell

small amounts of marijuana to adults, there is little evidence that regulating marijuana like

alcohol has caused any significant, adverse social harms. Colorado is as healthy and safe today as

it was before enacting laws to regulate and tax marijuana.

     (5) Recognizing that a majority of Rhode Islanders support ending the failed policy of

marijuana prohibition, Rhode Island joins Colorado and other states in replacing marijuana

prohibition with regulation and taxation.

     21-28.9-3. Definitions. -- For purposes of this chapter:

     (1) "Department" means the state of Rhode Island department of business regulation.

     (2) "Marijuana" means all parts of the plant of the genus cannabis, whether growing or

not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound,

manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or resin. It does not

include hemp, the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made

from the seeds of the plant, or any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or

preparation of the mature stalks (except the resin extracted from it), fiber, oil, or cake, or the

sterilized seed of the plant that is incapable of germination.

     (3) "Marijuana cultivation facility" means an entity that is registered pursuant to chapter

28.10 of title 21, to be exempt from state penalties for cultivating, preparing, packaging, and

selling marijuana to a retailer or another marijuana cultivation facility, but not for manufacturing

or selling marijuana products or selling marijuana to the general public.

      (4) "Marijuana establishment" means a marijuana cultivation facility, processor, retailer,

or safety compliance facility.

     (5) "Marijuana paraphernalia" means equipment, products, and materials which are used

or intended for use in planting, propagating, cultivating, growing, harvesting, manufacturing,

compounding, converting, producing, processing, preparing, testing, analyzing, packaging,

repackaging, storing, containing, concealing, ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing

marijuana into the human body.

     (6) “Marijuana processor” means an entity registered pursuant to chapter 28.10 of title 21

to be exempt from state penalties for purchasing marijuana from marijuana cultivation facilities,

manufacturing marijuana products, and selling, giving, or transferring marijuana products to a

marijuana retailer or a safety compliance center.

     (7) "Marijuana products" means concentrated marijuana and products that are comprised

of marijuana and other ingredients that are intended for use or consumption, such as, but not

limited to, edible products, ointments, and tinctures.

     (8) "Public place" means any street, alley, park, sidewalk, public building other than

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individual dwellings, or any place of business or assembly open to or frequented by the public,

and any other place to which the public has access, except that it does not include a retailer with

local approval to allow on-site consumption.

     (9) "Retailer" means an entity that is registered pursuant to chapter 28.10 of title 21 to be

exempt from state penalties for purchasing marijuana from marijuana cultivation facilities,

manufacturing marijuana products and marijuana paraphernalia, and selling marijuana, marijuana

products, and marijuana paraphernalia to customers who are twenty-one (21) years of age or

older.

     (10) "Safety compliance facility" means an entity that is registered pursuant to chapter

28.10 of title 21 to be exempt from state penalties for testing marijuana and marijuana products

for potency and contaminants.

     (11) "Smoke" means to heat to at least the point of combustion, causing plant material to

burn. It does not include vaporizing, which means heating below the point of combustion and

resulting in a vapor or mist.

     (12) "State prosecution" means prosecution initiated or maintained by the state of Rhode

Island or an agency or political subdivision of the state of Rhode Island.

     21-28.9-4. Exempt activities. -- Except as otherwise provided in this chapter:

     (1) A person who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older is exempt from arrest, civil or

criminal penalty, seizure or forfeiture of assets, discipline by any state or local licensing board,

and state prosecution for the following acts:

     (i) Actually and constructively using, obtaining, purchasing, transporting, or possessing

one ounce (1 oz) or less of marijuana, not including marijuana products;

      (ii) Actually and constructively using, obtaining, purchasing, transporting, or possessing

marijuana products containing no more than three hundred milligrams (300 mg) of delta-9-

tetrahydrocannabinol;

     (iii) Controlling any premises or vehicle where persons who are twenty-one (21) years of

age or older possess, process, or store amounts of marijuana and marijuana products that are legal

under state law under subsections (1)(i) and (1)(ii) of this section;

     (iv) Using, obtaining, manufacturing, producing, purchasing, transporting, or possessing,

actually or constructively, marijuana paraphernalia;

     (v) Selling, delivering, or transferring, marijuana seeds to a marijuana establishment or to

a person who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older;

     (vi) Selling, delivering, or transferring marijuana paraphernalia to marijuana

establishments or persons who are twenty-one (21) years of age or older;

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     (vii) Giving away, without consideration, the amounts of marijuana and marijuana

products that are legal under state law under subsections (1)(i) and (1)(ii) of this section if the

recipient is a person who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older;

     (viii) Transferring or delivering marijuana products or up to one ounce (1oz) of marijuana

to a safety compliance facility;

     (ix) Aiding and abetting another person who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older in

the actions allowed under this chapter;

     (x) Cultivating, possessing, growing, processing, or transporting no more than two (2)

marijuana plants, with one or fewer being a mature, flowering plant;

     (xi) Controlling any premises where other persons twenty-one (21) years of age or older

cultivate marijuana plants, with the total number of mature, flowering plants not exceeding three

(3) in any dwelling unit unless a greater amount is allowed pursuant to chapter 28.6 of title 21;

     (xii) Assisting with the cultivation of marijuana plants that are cultivated at the same

location for persons twenty-one (21) years of age or older, with the total number of mature,

flowering plants not exceeding three (3) in any dwelling unit; and

     (xiii) Any combination of the acts described within subsections (1)(i) through (1)(xii) of

this section, inclusive.

     (2) Except as provided in this chapter and chapter 28.10 of title 21, a retailer or any

person who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older and acting in their capacity as an owner,

principal officer, partner, board member, employee, or agent of a retailer is exempt from arrest,

civil or criminal penalty, seizure or forfeiture of assets, discipline by any state or local licensing

board, and state prosecution for the following acts:

     (i) Transporting or possessing, actually or constructively, marijuana, including seedlings

or cuttings, that was purchased from a marijuana cultivation facility or a retailer;

     (ii) Transporting or possessing, actually or constructively, marijuana products that were

purchased from a processor or a retailer;

     (iii) Obtaining or purchasing marijuana from a marijuana cultivation facility or marijuana

and marijuana products from a processor or a retailer;

     (iv) Selling, delivering, or transferring marijuana or marijuana products to another

retailer;

     (v) Manufacturing, possessing, producing, obtaining, or purchasing marijuana

paraphernalia;

     (vi) Selling, transferring, or delivering marijuana, including seedlings or cuttings,

marijuana products, or marijuana paraphernalia to any person who is twenty-one (21) years of age

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or older;

     (vii) Transferring or delivering marijuana or marijuana products to a safety compliance

facility;

     (viii) Controlling any premises or vehicle where marijuana, marijuana products, and

marijuana paraphernalia are possessed, sold, or deposited in a manner that is not in conflict with

this chapter or department regulations; and

     (ix) Any combination of the acts described within subsections (2)(i) through (2)(vii) of

this section, inclusive.

     (3) Except as provided in this chapter and chapter 28.10 of title 21, a marijuana

cultivation facility or any person who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older and acting in their

capacity as an owner, principal officer, partner, board member, employee, or agent of a marijuana

cultivation facility is exempt from arrest, civil or criminal penalty, seizure or forfeiture of assets,

discipline by any state or local licensing board, and state prosecution for the following acts:

     (i) Cultivating, packing, processing, transporting, or manufacturing marijuana, but not

marijuana products;

     (ii) Transporting or possessing marijuana that was produced by the marijuana cultivation

facility or another marijuana cultivation facility;

     (iii) Transporting or possessing marijuana seeds;

     (iv) Possessing, transporting, or producing marijuana paraphernalia;

     (v) Selling, delivering, or transferring marijuana to a retailer, marijuana processor, or a

marijuana cultivation facility;

     (vi) Purchasing marijuana from a marijuana cultivation facility;

      (vii) Purchasing or otherwise receiving marijuana seeds from a person who is twenty-one

(21) years of age or older;

     (viii) Delivering or transferring marijuana to a safety compliance facility;

     (ix) Controlling any premises or vehicle where marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia

are possessed, manufactured, sold, or deposited; and

     (x) Any combination of the acts described within subsections (3)(i) through (3)(ix) of this

section, inclusive.

     (4) Except as provided in this chapter and chapter 28.10 of title 21, a marijuana processor

facility or any person who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older and acting in their capacity as

an owner, principal officer, partner, board member, employee, or agent of a marijuana processor

facility is exempt from arrest, civil or criminal penalty, seizure or forfeiture of assets, discipline

by any state or local licensing board, and state prosecution for the following acts:

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     (i) Producing, manufacturing, packing, processing, or transporting marijuana products;

     (ii) Packing, processing, possessing, or transporting marijuana or marijuana seeds that

were produced by a marijuana cultivation center;

     (iii) Possessing, transporting, or producing marijuana paraphernalia;

     (iv) Manufacturing, possessing, or producing marijuana products;

     (v) Selling, delivering, or transferring marijuana products to a marijuana retailer or

another marijuana processor;

     (vi) Purchasing marijuana from a marijuana cultivation facility or another marijuana

processor;

     (vii) Delivering or transferring marijuana or marijuana products to a safety compliance

center;

     (viii) Controlling any premises or vehicle where marijuana products and marijuana

paraphernalia are possessed, manufactured, sold, or deposited;

     (ix) Controlling any premises or vehicle where marijuana is possessed, packaged, or

deposited; and

     (x) Any combination of the acts described within subsections (4)(i) through (4)(ix) of this

section, inclusive.

     (5) Except as provided in this chapter and chapter 28.10 of title 21, a safety compliance

facility or any person who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older and acting in their capacity as

an owner, principal officer, owner, partner, board member, employee, or agent of a safety

compliance facility shall not be subject to state prosecution; search, except by the department

pursuant to §21-28.10-20; seizure; or penalty in any manner or be denied any right or privilege,

including, but not limited to, civil penalty or disciplinary action by a court or business licensing

board or entity for the following acts:

     (i) Acquiring, transporting, storing, or possessing marijuana or marijuana products;

     (ii) Returning marijuana and marijuana products to marijuana cultivation facilities,

marijuana processor facilities, and retailers, or, if the quantity is no more than the amounts

allowed under §21-28.9-4, to individuals twenty-one (21) years of age or older;

     (iii) Delivering marijuana to other safety compliance facilities;

     (iv) Receiving compensation for analytical testing, including for contaminants or

potency; and

     (iv) Any combination of the acts described within subsections (4)(i) through (4)(iv) of

this section, inclusive.

     (6) The acts listed in subsections (1) through (5) of this section, when undertaken in

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compliance with the provisions of this chapter, are lawful under Rhode Island law.

     (7) Except as otherwise provided in §21-28.9-7, in a prosecution for selling, transferring,

delivering, giving, or otherwise furnishing marijuana, marijuana products, or marijuana

paraphernalia to any person who is under twenty-one (21) years of age, it is a complete defense if:

     (i) The person who sold, gave, or otherwise furnished marijuana, marijuana products, or

marijuana paraphernalia to a person who is under twenty-one (21) years of age was a retailer or

was acting in their capacity as an owner, employee, or agent of a retailer at the time the marijuana

or marijuana paraphernalia was sold, given, or otherwise furnished to the person; and

     (ii) Before selling, giving, or otherwise furnishing marijuana, marijuana products, or

marijuana paraphernalia to a person who is under twenty-one (21) years of age, the person who

sold, gave, or otherwise furnished the marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia, or a staffer or agent

of the retailer, was shown a document which appeared to be issued by an agency of a federal,

state, tribal, or foreign sovereign government and which indicated that the person to whom the

marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia was sold, given, or otherwise furnished was twenty-one

(21) years of age or older at the time the marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia was sold, given, or

otherwise furnished to the person.

     (8) The complete defense set forth in §21-28.9-7 of this section does not apply if:

     (i) The document which was shown to the person who sold, gave, or otherwise furnished

the marijuana, marijuana products, or marijuana paraphernalia was counterfeit, forged, altered, or

issued to a person other than the person to whom the marijuana, marijuana products, or marijuana

paraphernalia was sold, given, or otherwise furnished; and

     (ii) Under the circumstances, a reasonable person would have known or suspected that

the document was counterfeit, forged, altered, or issued to a person other than the person to

whom the marijuana, marijuana products, or marijuana paraphernalia was sold, given, or

otherwise furnished.

     21-28.9-5. Authorized activities. -- (a) Any person who is twenty-one (21) years of age

or older is authorized to manufacture, produce, use, obtain, purchase, transport, or possess,

actually or constructively, marijuana paraphernalia.

     (b) Any person who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older is authorized to distribute or

sell marijuana paraphernalia to marijuana establishments or persons who are twenty-one (21)

years of age or older.

     21-28.9-6. Public or unsecured cultivation of marijuana - Penalty. -- The manufacture

or cultivation of two (2) or fewer marijuana plants by any person who is twenty-one (21) years of

age or older in a location that is contrary to this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine

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of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000), up to ten (10) days in jail, or both.

     (1) Cultivation shall not occur in a location where the marijuana plants are subject to

public view, including from another private property, without the use of binoculars, aircraft, or

other optical aids.

     (2) Marijuana must be cultivated indoors in an enclosed, locked location.

     (3) Cultivation may only occur on property lawfully in possession of the cultivator.

     (4) If one or more persons under twenty-one (21) years of age live in or are guests at the

property where marijuana is cultivated, reasonable precautions must be taken to prevent their

access to marijuana plants. For purposes of illustration and not limitation, cultivating marijuana in

a locked closet, room, or fully enclosed area to which the person or persons under twenty-one

(21) years of age do not possess a key, constitutes reasonable precautions.

     21-28.9-7. Activities not exempt. -- The provisions of this chapter do not exempt any

person from arrest, civil or criminal penalty, seizure or forfeiture of assets, discipline by any state

or local licensing board, and state prosecution for, nor may they establish an affirmative defense

based on this chapter to charges arising from, any of the following acts:

     (1) Driving, operating, or being in actual physical control of a vehicle or a vessel under

power or sail while impaired by marijuana or marijuana products;

     (2) Possessing marijuana or marijuana products if the person is a prisoner;

     (3) Possessing marijuana or marijuana products in any local detention facility, county jail,

state prison, reformatory, or other correctional facility, including, without limitation, any facility

for the detention of juvenile offenders; or

     (4) Solvent-based production or manufacturing of marijuana product, in violation of §21-

28.9-12

     21-28.9-8. Smoking marijuana shall be prohibited in all public places. -- (a) A person

who smokes marijuana in an indoor public place shall be guilty of a petty misdemeanor, and may

be punished as follows:

     (1) By a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250), imprisonment for a term

not exceeding ten (10) days, or both, for the first violation.

     (2) By a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), imprisonment for a term not

exceeding thirty (30) days, or both, for the second or subsequent violation.

     (b) A person who smokes marijuana in an outdoor public place shall be liable for a civil

penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150).

     (c) Municipalities may impose additional fines equivalent to state fines for the

consumption of alcohol in an outdoor public place.

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     21-28.9-9. Places of employment. -- The provisions of this chapter do not require

employers to accommodate the use or possession of marijuana, or being under the influence of

marijuana, in a place of employment.

     21-28.9-10. Private property. -- (a) Except as provided in this section, the provisions of

this chapter do not require any person, corporation, or any other entity that occupies, owns, or

controls a property to allow the consumption, cultivation, display, or transfer of marijuana on or

in that property.

     (b) Except as provided in this section, in the case of the rental of a residential dwelling

unit governed by chapter 18 of title 34, a landlord may not prohibit the consumption of marijuana

by non-smoked means, the display of marijuana, or the transfer without compensation of

marijuana, if it is done within a dwelling unit and is not visible from outside of the individual

residential dwelling unit. A landlord may prohibit the consumption, display, and transfer of

marijuana by a roomer as defined in §34-18-11.

     21-28.9-11. False age representation. -- Any person who falsely represents themselves

to be twenty-one (21) years of age or older in order to obtain any marijuana, marijuana products,

or marijuana paraphernalia pursuant to this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor.

      21-28.9-12. Unlawful marijuana extraction, penalties. -- (a) No person, other than a

processor complying with this chapter and department regulations or an agent of a processor

acting in that capacity, may perform solvent-based extractions on marijuana using solvents other

than water or vegetable glycerin.

     (b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony punishable by up to three (3)

years in prison and a fine of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000).

     21-28.9-13. Medical use. -- Nothing contained herein shall be construed to repeal or

modify any law concerning the medical use of marijuana, including chapter 28.6 of title 21, or

tetrahydrocannabinol in other forms, such as Marinol.

     SECTION 2. Title 21 of the General Laws entitled "FOOD AND DRUGS" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 28.10

TAXATION AND REGULATION OF MARIJUANA

     21-28.10-1. Definitions. -- For purposes of this chapter:

     (1) "Department" means the state of Rhode Island department of business regulation.

     (2) "Marijuana" means all parts of the plant of the genus cannabis, whether growing or

not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound,

manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or resin. It does not

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include hemp, the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made

from the seeds of the plant, or any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or

preparation of the mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the

sterilized seed of the plant that is incapable of germination.

     (3) "Marijuana cultivation facility" means an entity that is registered pursuant to chapter

28.10 of title 21, to be exempt from state penalties for cultivating, preparing, packaging, and

selling marijuana to a retailer or another marijuana cultivation facility, but not for manufacturing

or selling marijuana products or selling marijuana to the general public.

     (4) "Marijuana establishment" means a marijuana cultivation facility, products

manufacturer, retailer, or safety compliance facility.

     (5) “Marijuana processor” means an entity registered pursuant to chapter 28.10 of title 21

to be exempt from state penalties for purchasing marijuana from marijuana cultivation facilities,

manufacturing marijuana products, and selling, giving, or transferring marijuana products to a

marijuana retailer or a safety compliance center.

     (6) "Marijuana products" means concentrated marijuana and products that are comprised

of marijuana and other ingredients and are intended for use or consumption, such as, but not

limited to, edible products, ointments, and tinctures.

     (7) "Retailer" means an entity that is registered pursuant to chapter 28.10 of title 21, to be

exempt from state penalties for purchasing marijuana from marijuana cultivation facilities,

manufacturing marijuana products and marijuana paraphernalia, and selling marijuana, marijuana

products, and marijuana paraphernalia to customers who are twenty-one (21) years of age or

older.

      (8) "Safety compliance facility" means an entity that is registered pursuant to chapter

28.10 of title 21, to be exempt from state penalties for testing marijuana for potency and

contaminants.

     (9) "State prosecution" means prosecution initiated or maintained by the state of Rhode

Island or an agency or political subdivision of the state of Rhode Island.

     21-28.10-2. Retailer registration. -- Except as otherwise provided in §21-28.10-6 of this

chapter:

     (1) A person or an entity may apply, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and

the regulations adopted pursuant thereto, for the issuance of a registration exempting the entity

from state prosecution and penalties for operating as a retailer pursuant to the provisions of this

chapter.

     (2) Each applicant for a retailer registration shall submit application materials required by

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the department and a nonrefundable fee in an amount determined by the department, not to

exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000).

     (3) Five (5) months after the effective date of this chapter, authorized representatives of

properly registered compassion centers may submit a statement of intent to operate as a marijuana

retailer. Six (6) months after the effective date of this chapter, the department shall issue a retailer

registration to the authorized representative of a properly registered compassion center under §21-

28.6-12 if the compassion center is in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations and the

authorized representative of the compassion center submitted a statement to the department

notifying it of their intent to operate as a retailer. Any retailer registration issued pursuant to this

subsection shall be considered a business registration separate and distinct from the registration

issued under chapter 28.6 of title 21.

     (4) No later than fourteen (14) months after the effective date of this chapter, the

department shall begin accepting applications for retailer registrations, including from applicants

who are not authorized representatives of properly registered compassion centers. By eighteen

(18) months after the effective date of this chapter, the department shall have issued at least forty

(40) retailer registrations, provided a sufficient number of qualified applicants exist. If more

qualifying applicants apply than the department will register, the department shall implement a

competitive scoring process to determine to which applicants to grant registrations. A compassion

center registered under §21-28.6-12 shall be given priority over other applicants in any

competitive application process, unless it has already been granted a retailer license.

     (5) Two (2) years after the effective date of this chapter, and every twelve (12) months

thereafter, the department shall issue additional retailer registration if the total number of

registrations issued is fewer than forty (40). At no time after two (2) years after the effective date

of this chapter shall there be fewer than forty (40) retailer registrations issued at any given time,

provided a sufficient number of qualified applicants exists.

     (6) The fee for the initial issuance of a registration as a retailer is ten thousand dollars

($10,000).

     (7) A registration as a retailer may be renewed annually for a ten thousand dollar

($10,000) fee. The renewal application may be submitted up to one hundred twenty (120) days

before the expiration of the retailer registration.

     (8) Nothing in this section shall prohibit an entity registered as a retailer or seeking

retailer registration from also holding a marijuana cultivation facility registration or a marijuana

processor facility registration or seeking registration as a marijuana cultivation facility under §21-

28.10-3 or a marijuana processor facility under §21-28-10.4.

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     (9) Nothing in this section shall prohibit an entity registered as a retailer or seeking

retailer registration from also holding a compassion center registration or seeking registration as a

compassion center under §21-28.6-12.

     21-28.10-3. Marijuana cultivation facility registration. -- Except as otherwise provided

by §21-28.10-6:

     (1) An entity may apply, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the

regulations adopted pursuant thereto, for the issuance of a registration exempting the entity from

state prosecution and penalties for operating as a marijuana cultivation facility pursuant to the

provisions of this chapter.

     (2) Each applicant for a marijuana cultivation facility registration shall submit application

materials required by the department and a nonrefundable fee in an amount determined by the

department, not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000).

     (3) Three (3) months after the effective date of this chapter, authorized representatives of

properly registered compassion centers may submit a statement of intent to operate a marijuana

cultivation facility. One hundred (100) days after the effective date of this chapter, the department

shall issue a marijuana cultivation facility registration to the authorized representative of a

properly registered compassion center under §21-28.6-12 if the compassion center is in

compliance with all applicable rules and regulations and the authorized representative of the

compassion center submitted a statement to the department notifying it of their intent to operate

as a marijuana cultivation facility. Any marijuana cultivation facility registration issued pursuant

to this subsection shall be considered a business registration separate and distinct from the

registration issued under §21-28.6-12.

     (4) No later than twelve (12) months after the effective date of this chapter, the

department shall accept and process applications for no fewer than seven (7) additional marijuana

cultivation facility registrations.

     (5) No later than twenty (20) months after the effective date of this chapter, and every

twelve (12) months thereafter, the department shall issue additional cultivation facility

registrations if the total number of registrations issued is fewer than ten (10).

     (6) Any time the department accepts additional applications for marijuana cultivation

registrations, if more qualifying applicants apply than the department will register, the department

shall implement a competitive scoring process to determine to which applicants to grant

registrations. Unless it already has been issued a cultivation facility registration, a compassion

center that cultivates marijuana and is registered under §21-28.6-12 shall be given priority over

other applicants in any competitive application process.

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     (7) Each marijuana cultivation facility shall pay a fee for the initial issuance of a

registration and for an annual renewal in an amount determined by the department. The

department shall set a tiered system of fees, which vary depending on the size of the marijuana

cultivation facility. The highest fee may not exceed twenty thousand ($20,000) per year. Under

approval of the department, marijuana cultivation facility registrants may operate up to two (2)

structures for the secure cultivation of marijuana at locations registered with the department.

     (8) A registration as a marijuana cultivation facility may be renewed annually. The

renewal application may be submitted up to one hundred twenty (120) days before the expiration

of the marijuana cultivation facility registration.

     (9) If at any time beginning eighteen (18) months after the effective date of this chapter

the department has failed to begin issuing marijuana cultivation facility registrations or has

ceased issuing marijuana cultivation facility registrations in accordance with this chapter, a

marijuana cultivation facility registration shall not be required to operate as a marijuana

cultivation facility for any person or entity that is properly registered as a compassion center

under §21-28.6-12.

     (10) Nothing in this section shall prohibit an entity registered as a marijuana cultivation

facility or seeking marijuana cultivation facility registration from also holding a retailer or

processor registration or seeking registration as a retailer under §21-28.10-2 or a processor under

§21-28.10-4.

     (11) Nothing in this section shall prohibit an entity registered as a marijuana cultivation

facility or seeking marijuana cultivation facility registration from also holding a compassion

center registration or seeking registration as a compassion center under §21-28.6-12.

     21-28.10-4. Marijuana processor facility registration. -- Except as otherwise provided

in §21-28.10-6:

     (1) An entity may apply, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the

regulations adopted pursuant thereto, for the issuance of a registration exempting the entity from

state prosecution and penalties for operating a marijuana processor facility pursuant to the

provisions of this chapter.

     (2) Each applicant for a marijuana processor facility registration shall submit application

materials required by the department and a nonrefundable fee in an amount determined by the

department, not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000).

     (3) Three (3) months after the effective date of this chapter, authorized representatives of

properly registered compassion centers may submit a statement of intent to operate a marijuana

processor facility. One hundred (100) days after the effective date of this chapter, the department

LC004368 - Page 13 of 47

shall issue a marijuana processor facility registration to the authorized representative of a

properly registered compassion center under §21-28.6-12 if the compassion center is in

compliance with all applicable rules and regulations and the authorized representative of the

compassion center submitted a statement to the department notifying it of their intent to operate

as a marijuana processor facility. Any marijuana processor facility registration issued pursuant to

this subsection shall be considered a business registration separate and distinct from the

registration issued under §21-28.6-12.

     (4) No later than twelve (12) months after the effective date of this chapter, the

department shall begin accepting applications for processor registrations. The department shall

issue processor facility registrations to ten (10) qualified applicants. If more qualifying applicants

apply than the department will register, the department shall implement a competitive scoring

process to determine to which applicants to grant registrations, which may be varied to ensure a

variety of products are available.

     (5) Two (2) years after the effective date of this chapter, and every twelve (12) months

thereafter, the department shall issue additional processor registrations if the total number of

registrations issued is fewer than ten (10). At no time after two (2) years after the effective date of

this chapter shall there be fewer than ten (10) processor registrations issued at any given time,

provided a sufficient number of qualified applicants exists.

     (6) The fee for the initial issuance of a registration as a processor is ten thousand dollars

($10,000).

     (7) A registration as a processor may be renewed annually for a ten thousand dollar

($10,000) fee. The renewal application may be submitted up to one hundred twenty (120) days

before the expiration of the retailer registration.

     (8) Nothing in this section shall prohibit an entity registered as a processor or seeking

processor registration from also holding a marijuana cultivation facility registration or a

marijuana retailer facility registration or seeking registration as a marijuana cultivation facility

under §21-28.10-3 or a marijuana retail facility under §21-28.10.2.

     (9) Nothing in this section shall prohibit an entity registered as a processor or seeking a

processor registration from also holding a compassion center registration or seeking registration

as a compassion center under §21-28.6-12.

     21-28.10-5. Safety compliance facility registration. -- Except as otherwise provided in

§21-28.10-6:

     (1) An entity may apply, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the

regulations adopted pursuant thereto, for the issuance of a registration exempting the entity from

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state prosecution and penalties for operating as a safety compliance facility pursuant to the

provisions of this chapter.

     (2) Each applicant for a safety compliance facility registration shall submit application

materials required by the department and a nonrefundable fee in an amount determined by the

department, not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000).

     (3) If qualified applicants exist, the department shall grant a two (2) year registration to at

least twenty (20) safety compliance facilities within one year of the effective date of this chapter,

provided that each facility pays a five thousand dollar ($5,000) fee. If more qualifying applicants

apply than the department will register, the department shall implement a competitive scoring

process to determine to which applicants to grant registrations.

     (4) If at any time after two (2) years after the effective date of this chapter, there are

fewer than twenty (20) valid safety compliance facility registrations, the department shall accept

and process applications for safety compliance facility registrations.

     (5) A safety compliance facility registration may be renewed biennially for a five

thousand dollar ($5,000) fee. The renewal application may be submitted up to one hundred

twenty (120) days before the expiration of the registration.

     21-28.10-6. Ineligibility for registration. -- A marijuana establishment may not operate,

and a prospective marijuana establishment may not apply for a registration, if any of the

following are true:

     (1) The entity would be located within one thousand feet (1000') of the property line of a

pre-existing public or private school; or

     (2) The entity sells intoxicating liquor for consumption on the premises.

     21-28.10-7. Municipalities. -- (a) Nothing shall prohibit municipalities from enacting

ordinances or regulations not in conflict with this section or with department rules regulating the

time, place, and manner of marijuana establishments' operations, provided that no local

government may prohibit any type of marijuana establishments' operation altogether, either

expressly or through the enactment of ordinances or regulations which make any type of

marijuana establishments' operation impracticable. Nothing shall prohibit municipalities from

imposing civil and criminal penalties on the violation of ordinances enacted pursuant to this

section.

     (b) A retailer may not allow on-site consumption of marijuana unless doing so is

specifically allowed by the locality in which it operates.

     21-28.10-8. Advertising and product placement. -- (a) No marijuana establishment or

other person may advertise the sale of marijuana in a manner contrary to the regulations

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established by the department.

     (b) Film, television, production, and other entertainment companies are prohibited from

accepting payment for the product placement of marijuana or marijuana products in any

production filmed in Rhode Island.

     21-28.10-9. Retailer safety insert. -- A retailer shall:

     (1) Include a safety insert with all marijuana and marijuana products sold. The safety

insert may, at the department's discretion, be developed and approved by the department and shall

include, but not be limited to, information on:

     (i) Methods for administering marijuana;

     (ii) Any potential dangers stemming from the use of marijuana; and

     (iii) How to recognize what may be problematic usage of marijuana and obtain

appropriate services or treatment for problematic usage.

     (2) Sell marijuana in its original marijuana cultivation facility packaging without making

any changes or repackaging.

     (3) Sell marijuana products in their original processor facility packaging without making

any changes or repackaging.

     21-28.10-10. Warning label on marijuana and marijuana products. -- (a) A marijuana

cultivation facility must create a unique package and label for its marijuana identifying itself as

the producer.

     (b) A marijuana processor must create a unique package and label for its marijuana

products identifying itself as the producer.

     (c) Each package's label shall include:

     (1) The name or registration number of the marijuana cultivation facility that produced

the marijuana, and, in the case of marijuana products, the processor that produced the marijuana

products;

     (2) If a safety compliance facility is operational, the potency of the marijuana, as

determined by testing by a safety compliance facility, represented by the percentage of delta-9-

tetrahydrocannabinol by mass in whole plant marijuana or, in the case of marijuana products, the

amount of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in milligrams;

     (3) A "produced on" date; and

     (4) Warnings that state: "Consumption of marijuana impairs your ability to drive a car or

operate machinery," "Keep away from children," and, unless federal or state laws have changed,

"Possession of marijuana is illegal outside of Rhode Island and under federal law."

     21-28.10-11. Marijuana cultivation facilities. -- (a) All marijuana cultivated by

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marijuana cultivation facilities shall be cultivated only in enclosed, locked facilities registered

with the department. An "enclosed, locked facility" may include a building, room, greenhouse,

fully enclosed fenced-in area, or other location enclosed on all sides and equipped with locks or

other security devices.

     (b) A marijuana cultivation facility may only permit access to an enclosed, locked facility

by:

      (1) Employees, agents, or owners of the marijuana cultivation facility, all of whom must

be twenty-one (21) years of age or older;

     (2) Government employees performing their official duties;

     (3) Contractors performing labor that does not include marijuana cultivation, packaging,

or processing, and who must be accompanied by an employee, agent, or owner of the marijuana

cultivation facility when they are in areas where marijuana is being grown or stored; or

     (4) Members of the media, elected officials, and individuals over the age of twenty-one

(21) touring the facility, if they are accompanied by an employee, agent, or owner of the

marijuana cultivation facility.

     21-28.10-12. Transportation of marijuana. -- (a) A marijuana establishment or any

person who is acting in their capacity as an owner, employee, or agent of a marijuana

establishment must have documentation when transporting marijuana or marijuana products on

behalf of the marijuana establishment that specifies the amount of marijuana or marijuana

products being transported, the registry identification number of the marijuana establishment, the

date the marijuana or marijuana product is being transported, and, if the marijuana or marijuana

product is being transported to another marijuana establishment, the registry identification

number of the intended marijuana establishment the marijuana is being transported to.

     (b) If the marijuana establishment does not have a registration number because the

department has ceased issuing registry identification certificates or has failed to begin issuing

registry identification certificates, the marijuana establishment may instead use a number of its

choosing that it consistently uses on documentation in place of a registry identification number.

     21-28.10-13. Minors on the premises of marijuana establishment. -- (a) A marijuana

establishment shall not allow any person who is under twenty-one (21) years of age to be present

inside any room where marijuana or marijuana products are stored, produced, or sold by the

marijuana establishment unless the person who is under twenty-one (21) years of age is:

     (1) A government employee performing their official duties;

     (2) An elected official, a member of the media, a contractor performing labor that does

not include marijuana cultivation, manufacturing, packaging, or processing; or

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     (3) If the marijuana establishment is a retailer, a medical marijuana patient registered

pursuant to chapter 28.9 of title 21, if the retailer premises are also registered as a compassion

center pursuant to §21-28.6-12 and the individual under twenty-one (21) years of age is a

qualifying patient registered under chapter 28.6 of title 21.

     (b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, in a prosecution for a violation of this

section, it is a complete defense that before allowing a person who is under twenty-one (21) years

of age into the room where marijuana is sold or stored, a staff member for the marijuana

establishment was shown a document which appeared to be issued by an agency of a federal,

state, tribal, or foreign sovereign government and which indicated that the person who was

allowed onto the premises of the marijuana establishment was twenty-one (21) years of age or

older at the time the person was allowed onto the premises. The complete defense set forth in this

subsection does not apply if:

     (1) The document which was shown to the person who allowed the person who is under

twenty-one (21) years of age onto the premises of the retailer was counterfeit, forged, altered, or

issued to a person other than the person who was allowed onto the premises of the retailer; and

     (2) Under the circumstances, a reasonable person would have known or suspected that the

document was counterfeit, forged, altered, or issued to a person other than the person who was

allowed onto the premises.

     21-28.10-14. Retailer violations. -- A retailer shall not:

     (1) Sell, give, deliver, or otherwise furnish marijuana, marijuana products, or marijuana

paraphernalia to any person who is under twenty-one (21) years of age unless the retailer

premises are also registered as a compassion center under §21-28.6-12 and the individual under

twenty-one (21) years of age is a qualifying patient registered under chapter 28.6 of title 21.

     (2) Sell, give, deliver, or otherwise furnish marijuana or marijuana products to any person

who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older unless the marijuana or marijuana products have

been tested for potency and contaminants.

     (3) Except as provided in this section, sell, deliver, give, or otherwise furnish more than

the following quantities of marijuana or marijuana products to a person in a single transaction;

     (i) One ounce (1 oz.) of marijuana, not including hashish;

     (ii) Two (2) immature marijuana plants; and

     (iii) Marijuana products containing 300 milligrams of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

     (4) Except as provided in this section, knowingly and willfully sell, give, or otherwise

furnish an amount of marijuana to a person that would cause that person to possess more than the

quantities listed in subsection (3) of this section.

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     (5) The prohibitions on dispensing marijuana in subsections (2) and (3) of this section do

not apply in instances where the retailer has verified that the person is a qualifying patient or

primary caregiver registered under chapter 28.6 of title 21 and the amount of marijuana dispensed

is within the qualifying patient's limits;

     (6) Purchase marijuana, other than marijuana seeds, from any person other than a

marijuana cultivation facility or retailer.

     (7) Purchase marijuana products from any person other than a marijuana processor.

     (8) Violate regulations issued by the department.

     (b) In addition to any other penalty provided pursuant to specific statutes, a retailer who

violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than

one thousand dollars ($1,000).

     (c) As used in this section, "marijuana paraphernalia" means equipment, products, and

materials which are used or intended for use in planting, propagating, cultivating, growing,

harvesting, manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing, preparing, testing,

analyzing, packaging, repackaging, storing, containing, concealing, ingesting, inhaling, or

otherwise introducing marijuana into the human body.

     21-28.10-15. Marijuana cultivation facility violations. -- (a) A marijuana cultivation

facility shall not:

     (1) Manufacture, sell, give away, or otherwise distribute marijuana products;

     (2) Sell, deliver, give away, or otherwise furnish marijuana to any person other than a

marijuana establishment or an agent or staff member acting on behalf of a marijuana

establishment;

     (3) Purchase marijuana, other than marijuana seeds, from any person other than a

marijuana cultivation facility; or

     (4) Purchase or sell, deliver, give, or otherwise furnish marijuana in any manner other

than as is exempted from state penalties pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and any

regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

     (b) In addition to any other penalty provided pursuant to specific statutes, a person who

violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than

one thousand dollars ($1,000).

     21-28.10-16. Marijuana processor facility violations. -- (a) A marijuana processor

facility shall not:

     (1) Manufacture, cultivate, or produce marijuana;

     (2) Sell, deliver, give away, or otherwise furnish marijuana products to any person other

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than a marijuana retailer or an agent or staff member acting on behalf of a marijuana retailer;

     (3) Purchase marijuana from any person other than a marijuana cultivation facility; or

     (4) Purchase or sell, deliver, give, or otherwise furnish marijuana products in any manner

other than as is exempted from state penalties pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and any

regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

     (b) In addition to any other penalty provided pursuant to specific statutes, a person who

violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than

one thousand dollars ($1,000).

     21-28.10-17. Operation of a marijuana establishment before rule-making. -- Any

marijuana establishment that is registered before the department has completed rule-making must

comply with security regulations issued by the department of health for compassion centers until

the department's rule-making has been finalized.

     21-28.10-18. Suspension or termination of registration. -- The department may

suspend or terminate the registration of a marijuana establishment that commits multiple or

serious violations of this chapter, reasonable regulations issued pursuant to it, or any other state or

local law. No later than ninety (90) days after the effective date of this chapter, the department

shall promulgate regulations governing the procedures for suspending, revoking, or terminating

the registration of marijuana establishments. These procedures must ensure due process rights are

adhered to.

     21-28.10-19. Excise tax. -- (a) An excise tax is hereby levied upon marijuana cultivation

facilities and must be collected respecting all marijuana sold or transferred to marijuana

processors or retailers.

     (b) The dried flowers of the marijuana plant shall be taxed at the rate of either fifty

dollars ($50.00) per ounce or proportionate part thereof, or at an amount that the department may

set that adjusts the initial fifty dollars ($50.00) per ounce rate for inflation or deflation based on

the consumer price index.

     (c) Marijuana seedlings sold or transferred by marijuana cultivation facilities shall be

taxed at the rate of either ten dollars ($10.00) per plant, or at an amount that the department may

set that adjusts in initial ten dollars ($10.00) per plant rate for inflation or deflation based on the

consumer price index.

     (d) All other parts of the marijuana plant that are sold or transferred by marijuana

cultivation facilities, including, but not limited to, the dried leaves, shall be taxed at the rate of

either fifteen dollars ($15.00) per ounce or proportionate part thereof, or at an amount that the

department may set that adjusts the initial fifteen dollar ($15.00) per ounce rate for inflation or

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deflation based on the consumer price index.

     21-28.10-20. Distribution of funds. -- The department shall apportion the money

remitted to the department from registration fees and taxes collected pursuant to this chapter in

the following manner:

     (1) The department shall retain sufficient money to defray the entire cost of

administration of this chapter.

     (2) The department shall remit to the department of health an amount sufficient to cover

the costs associated with any health and safety inspections made necessary by this chapter.

     (3) After retaining sufficient money to defray the entire cost of administration of this

chapter pursuant to subsection (1) of this section and remitting sufficient money to the department

of health pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, the department shall remit the remaining

money to the Rhode Island general fund, thirty percent (30%) of which must be distributed to the

Rhode Island department of health for use in voluntary programs for the prevention or treatment

of the abuse of alcohol, tobacco, or controlled substances, ten percent (10%) of which must be

spent on drug recognition expert training for members of Rhode Island law enforcement, five

percent (5%) to municipalities with cultivation facilities registered in their jurisdictions, with the

amount distributed to an individual municipality determined based on the proportion of excise

taxes levied pursuant to §21-28.10-19 on marijuana cultivated in the municipality, and five

percent (5%) to municipalities with marijuana retailers operating their jurisdiction, with the

amount distributed to an individual municipality determined based on the proportion of special

sales taxes levied pursuant to §44-70-1 on marijuana sold at retail in the municipality.

     21-28.10-21. Contracts enforceable. -- It is the public policy of the state that contracts

related to the operation of a marijuana cultivation facility, marijuana processor facility, retailer,

safety compliance facility, compassion center, or hemp cultivator registered pursuant to Rhode

Island law should be enforceable. It is the public policy of the state that no contract entered into

by a registered marijuana establishment or hemp cultivator or its employees or agents as

permitted pursuant to a valid registration with a department of the state, or by those who allow

property to be used by an establishment, its employees, or its agents as permitted pursuant to a

valid registration, shall be unenforceable on the basis that cultivating, obtaining, manufacturing,

distributing, dispensing, transporting, selling, possessing, or using marijuana or hemp is

prohibited by federal law.

     21-28.10-22. Department regulations. -- (a) The department is responsible for

administering and carrying out the provisions of this chapter.

     (b) The department may adopt regulations that are necessary and convenient to

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administer and carry out the provisions of this chapter.

     (c) No later than one hundred-eighty (180) days after the effective date of this chapter,

the department shall adopt regulations that:

     (1) Set forth the procedures for the application for and issuance of registrations to

marijuana establishments, including the content and form for applications;

     (2) Establish qualifications for registration that are directly and demonstrably related to

the operation of a marijuana establishment;

     (3) Develop a competitive scoring process to determine which applicants to register to

operate each type of marijuana establishment. The scoring system shall take into account the

applicant and managing officers' applicable experience, training, and expertise; the applicant's

plan for security and diversion prevention; any criminal, civil, or regulatory issues encountered

by other entities the applicant and managing officers have controlled or managed; and the

suitability of the proposed location. The department shall award additional points to applicants

that provide certification from the Rhode Island minority business enterprise compliance office

demonstrating the applicant's status as a minority business enterprise as defined in §37-14.1-3.

The competitive scoring process for retailers may be varied to account for geographic

distribution, population density, or both;

     (4) Specify the procedures for the collection of taxes levied pursuant to this chapter;

     (5) Specify the content, form, and timing of reports, which must be completed by each

marijuana establishment and which must be available for inspection by the department. The

reports shall include information on sales, expenses, inventory, and taxes and shall be retained for

at least one year after the completion of the forms;

     (6) Specify requirements for the packaging and labeling of marijuana, including

requiring:

     (i) The disclosure of a list of ingredients and possible allergens in marijuana products;

     (ii) A nutritional fact panel for marijuana products;

     (iii) Marijuana products to be distributed in opaque, child-resistant packaging, which

must be designed or constructed to be significantly difficult for children under five (5) years of

age to open and not difficult for normal adults to use properly as defined by 16 C.F.R. 1700.20

(1995); and

     (iv) The dissemination of educational materials to consumers who purchase marijuana-

infused products, including information regarding the length of time it typically takes for products

to take effect.

     (7) Specify the requirements for the production and sale of marijuana-infused products

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which shall include, at a minimum:

     (i) Defining the amount of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol that constitutes a single serving;

     (ii) Limiting each package of edible marijuana-infused products to containing no more

than ten (10) single servings, each of which must be contained in child-resistant packaging; and

     (iii) Requiring that marijuana-infused products be clearly identifiable, when practicable,

with a standard symbol indicating that it contains marijuana;

     (8) Specify the requirements for the safety insert to be included with marijuana by

retailers, including those in §21-28.10-8, if the department chooses to do so;

     (9) Establish reasonable security requirements for marijuana establishments, which may

not conflict with security requirements for compassion centers;

     (10) Require the posting or display of marijuana establishments' registrations;

     (11) Establish restrictions on advertising for the sale of marijuana. The restrictions shall:

     (i) Be in compliance with the United States Constitution and the Rhode Island

Constitution;

     (ii) Include a prohibition on advertising reasonably considered aimed at minors; and

     (iii) Be at least as restrictive as limitations on advertising tobacco products, provided that

the regulations may not prevent appropriate signs on the property of the marijuana establishment,

listings in business directories including phone books, listings in publications focused on

marijuana, or the sponsorship of health or not-for-profit charity or advocacy events;

     (12) Establish procedures for inspecting and auditing the records or premises of a

marijuana establishment, including, but not limited to, procedures for the department of health to

conduct inspections of a marijuana establishment that produces edible or potable marijuana-

infused products;

     (13) Set a schedule of civil fines for violations of this chapter and regulations issued

pursuant to the chapter;

     (14) Set forth the procedures for hearings on civil fines and suspensions and revocation of

a registration as a retailer, marijuana cultivation facility, marijuana processor facility, or safety

compliance facility for a violation of any provision of this chapter or the regulations adopted

pursuant to this chapter;

     (15) Establish reasonable environmental controls to ensure that any registered marijuana

establishment minimizes any harm to the environment adjoining and nearby landowners, and

persons passing by. This may include prohibiting pesticides that are harmful to human health, but

may not include a prohibition on the use of all pesticides;

     (16) Prohibit or regulate additives to marijuana and marijuana-infused products,

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including, but not limited to, those that are toxic, designed to make the product more addictive, or

designed to make the product more appealing to children or misleading to consumers; the

prohibition may not extend to common baking and cooking items;

     (17) Mandate random sample testing to ensure quality control, including by ensuring that

marijuana and marijuana-infused products are accurately labeled for potency. The testing analysis

must include testing for residual solvents, poisons, or toxins; harmful chemicals; dangerous molds

or mildew; filth; and harmful microbials such as E. coli or salmonella and pesticides;

     (18) Establishing standards for the operation of testing laboratories, including

requirements for equipment and qualifications for personnel;

     (19) Establish rules requiring marijuana cultivation facilities, marijuana processor

facilities, safety compliance facilities, and retailers to create identification cards for their

employees and agents and providing for the contents of the identification cards; and

     (20) Establish rules for the secure transportation of marijuana.

     (d) The department shall make available free of charge all forms for applications and

reports.

     (e) The department shall issue all registrations as required by this chapter.

     (f) The department shall not require:

     (1) An individual consumer to provide a retailer with personal information other than

government-issued identification to determine the individual's age; or

     (2) A retailer to acquire and record personal information about individual customers other

than information typically acquired in a financial transaction conducted at a retail liquor store.

     21-28.10-23. Failure of department to adopt regulations. -- (a) The department shall

adopt regulations to implement this chapter. Within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this

chapter, the department shall begin accepting applications for marijuana establishments from

persons or entities who hold a current compassion center registration under §21-28.6-12.

     (b) Within eighteen months (18) months of the effective date of this chapter, the

department shall begin accepting applications for marijuana establishments from persons or

entities who do not hold a current compassion center registration under §21-28.6-12.

     (c) If the department fails to adopt regulations to implement this chapter or fails to begin

processing applications for marijuana establishments within one hundred eighty (180) days of the

effective date of this chapter, any citizen may commence an action in a court of competent

jurisdiction to compel the department to perform the actions mandated pursuant to the provisions

of this chapter.

     SECTION 3. Title 44 of the General Laws entitled "TAXATION" is hereby amended by

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adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 70

SPECIAL SALES TAX ON RETAIL MARIJUANA

     44-70-1. Imposition of special sales tax on retail marijuana. -- (a) Except as provided

for in subsection (b) of this section, a sales tax at a rate of ten percent (10%) shall be imposed on

all retail sales of marijuana in accordance with the laws of, and regulations enacted through the

authority of, title 21.

     (b) The special sales tax does not apply to marijuana sales from a registered compassion

center to a registered qualifying patient or a registered primary caregiver pursuant to §21-28.6-

12.

     SECTION 4. Section 44-18-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-18 entitled "Sales and

Use Taxes - Liability and Computation" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     44-18-7. Sales defined. -- "Sales" means and includes:

      (1) Any transfer of title or possession, exchange, barter, lease, or rental, conditional or

otherwise, in any manner or by any means of tangible personal property for a consideration.

"Transfer of possession", "lease", or "rental" includes transactions found by the tax administrator

to be in lieu of a transfer of title, exchange, or barter.

      (2) The producing, fabricating, processing, printing, or imprinting of tangible personal

property for a consideration for consumers who furnish either directly or indirectly the materials

used in the producing, fabricating, processing, printing, or imprinting.

      (3) The furnishing and distributing of tangible personal property for a consideration by

social, athletic, and similar clubs and fraternal organizations to their members or others.

      (4) The furnishing, preparing, or serving for consideration of food, meals, or drinks,

including any cover, minimum, entertainment, or other charge in connection therewith.

      (5) A transaction whereby the possession of tangible personal property is transferred, but

the seller retains the title as security for the payment of the price.

      (6) Any withdrawal, except a withdrawal pursuant to a transaction in foreign or interstate

commerce, of tangible personal property from the place where it is located for delivery to a point

in this state for the purpose of the transfer of title or possession, exchange, barter, lease, or rental,

conditional or otherwise, in any manner or by any means whatsoever, of the property for a

consideration.

      (7) A transfer for a consideration of the title or possession of tangible personal property,

which has been produced, fabricated, or printed to the special order of the customer, or any

publication.

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      (8) The furnishing and distributing of electricity, natural gas, artificial gas, steam,

refrigeration, and water.

      (9) (i) The furnishing for consideration of intrastate, interstate and international

telecommunications service sourced in this state in accordance with subsections 44-18.1(15) and

(16) and all ancillary services, any maintenance services of telecommunication equipment other

than as provided for in subdivision 44-18-12(b)(ii). For the purposes of chapters 18 and 19 of this

title only, telecommunication service does not include service rendered using a prepaid telephone

calling arrangement.

      (ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (i) of this subdivision, in accordance

with the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act (4 U.S.C. §§ 116 -- 126), subject to the

specific exemptions described in 4 U.S.C. § 116(c), and the exemptions provided in §§ 44-18-8

and 44-18-12, mobile telecommunications services that are deemed to be provided by the

customer's home service provider are subject to tax under this chapter if the customer's place of

primary use is in this state regardless of where the mobile telecommunications services originate,

terminate or pass through. Mobile telecommunications services provided to a customer, the

charges for which are billed by or for the customer's home service provider, shall be deemed to be

provided by the customer's home service provider.

      (10) The furnishing of service for transmission of messages by telegraph, cable, or radio

and the furnishing of community antenna television, subscription television, and cable television

services.

      (11) The rental of living quarters in any hotel, rooming house, or tourist camp.

      (12) The transfer for consideration of prepaid telephone calling arrangements and the

recharge of prepaid telephone calling arrangements sourced to this state in accordance with §§

44-18.1-11 and 44-18.1-15. "Prepaid telephone calling arrangement" means and includes prepaid

calling service and prepaid wireless calling service.

      (13) The sale, storage, use or other consumption of over-the-counter drugs as defined in

paragraph 44-18-7.1(h)(ii).

      (14) The sale, storage, use or other consumption of prewritten computer software

delivered electronically or by load and leave as defined in paragraph 44-18-7.1(v).

      (15) The sale, storage, use or other consumption of medical marijuana as defined in § 21-

28.6-3.

      (16) The furnishing of services in this state as defined in § 44-18-7.3.

     SECTION 5. Sections 12-1.3-2 and 12-1.3-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-1.3

entitled "Expungement of Criminal Records" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     12-1.3-2. Motion for expungement. -- (a) Any person who is a first offender may file a

motion for the expungement of all records and records of conviction for a felony or misdemeanor

by filing a motion in the court in which the conviction took place; provided, that no person who

has been convicted of a crime of violence shall have his or her records and records of conviction

expunged; and provided, that all outstanding court-imposed or court-related fees, fines, costs,

assessments, charges, and/or any other monetary obligations have been paid, unless such amounts

are reduced or waived by order of the court.

      (b) Subject to subsection (a) of this section, a person may file a motion for the

expungement of records relating to a misdemeanor conviction after five (5) years from the date of

the completion of his or her sentence.

      (c) Subject to subsection (a) of this section, a person may file a motion for the

expungement of records relating to a felony conviction after ten (10) years from the date of the

completion of his or her sentence.

     (d) Without regard to subsections (a) through (c) of this section, a person may file a

motion for the expungement of records related to an offense that has been either decriminalized

or legalized subsequent to the date of such conviction, after which the court will hold a hearing on

the motion in the court in which the original conviction took place.

     12-1.3-3. Motion for expungement -- Notice -- Hearing -- Criteria for granting. -- (a)

Any person filing a motion for expungement of the records of his or her conviction pursuant to §

12-1.3-2 shall give notice of the hearing date set by the court to the department of the attorney

general and the police department that originally brought the charge against the person at least ten

(10) days prior to that date.

      (b) The court, after the hearing at which all relevant testimony and information shall be

considered, may in its discretion order the expungement of the records of conviction of the person

filing the motion if it finds:

      (1) That in the five (5) years preceding the filing of the motion, if the conviction was for

a misdemeanor, or in the ten (10) years preceding the filing of the motion if the conviction was

for a felony, the petitioner has not been convicted nor arrested for any felony or misdemeanor;

there are no criminal proceedings pending against the person; that the person does not owe any

outstanding court-imposed or court-related fees, fines, costs, assessments, or charges, unless such

amounts are reduced or waived by order of the court, and he or she has exhibited good moral

character;

      (2) That the petitioner's rehabilitation has been attained to the court's satisfaction and the

expungement of the records of his or her conviction is consistent with the public interest.

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      (c) If the court grants the motion, it shall, after payment by the petitioner of a one

hundred dollar ($100) fee to be paid to the court, order all records and records of conviction

relating to the conviction expunged and all index and other references to it removed from public

inspection. A copy of the order of the court shall be sent to any law enforcement agency and other

agency known by either the petitioner, the department of the attorney general, or the court to have

possession of the records. Compliance with the order shall be according to the terms specified by

the court.

      (d) The defendant shall be advised at the hearing that any and all bail money relating to a

case that remains on deposit and is not claimed at the time of expungement shall be escheated to

the state's general treasury in accordance with chapter 12 of title 8.

     (e) In cases of expungement sought pursuant to §12-1.3-2(d), the court shall, after a

hearing at which it finds that all conditions of the original criminal sentence have been completed

and any and all fines, fees, and costs related to conviction have been paid in full, order the

expungement without cost to the petitioner. At said hearing, should the petitioner demonstrate, by

prima facie evidence, that the conviction of said offense resulted from conduct that is a

decriminalized civil violation under current law or has been legalized subsequent to the

conviction, the burden shifts to the state to demonstrate that the conviction does not qualify for

relief under this chapter.

     SECTION 6. Sections 21-28-4.01, 21-28-4.01.1 and 21-28-4.01.2 of the General Laws in

Chapter 21-28 entitled "Uniform Controlled Substances Act" are hereby amended to read as

follows:

     21-28-4.01. Prohibited acts A -- Penalties. -- (a) (1) Except as authorized by this

chapter, or exempted from annual penalties pursuant to chapters 28.9 or 28.10 of title 21 it shall

be unlawful for any person to manufacture, deliver, or possess with intent to manufacture or

deliver a controlled substance.

      (2) Any person who is not a drug-addicted person, as defined in § 21-28-1.02(18), who

violates this subsection with respect to a controlled substance classified in schedule I or II, except

the substance classified as marijuana, is guilty of a crime and upon conviction may be imprisoned

to a term up to life or fined not more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) nor less than

ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.

      (3) Where the deliverance as prohibited in this subsection shall be the proximate cause of

death to the person to whom the controlled substance is delivered, it shall not be a defense that

the person delivering the substance was at the time of delivery, a drug-addicted person as defined

in § 21-28-1.02(18).

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      (4) Any person under twenty-one (21) years of age, except as provided for in subdivision

(2) of this subsection, who violates this subsection with respect to the manufacture of one mature,

flowering marijuana plant or two (2) or fewer total marijuana plants is guilty of a crime and upon

conviction may be imprisoned for not more than one year, or fined not more than three thousand

dollars ($3,000), or both:

      (i) A controlled substance, classified in schedule I or II, is guilty of a crime and upon

conviction may be imprisoned for not more than thirty (30) years, or fined not more than one

hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) nor less than three thousand dollars ($3,000), or both;

     (ii) The manufacture of two (2) or more mature, flowering marijuana plants or three (3)

or more total marijuana plants, is guilty of a crime and upon conviction may be imprisoned for

not more than three (3) years or fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both;

     (iii) The delivery of marijuana is guilty of a crime and upon conviction may be

imprisoned for not more than five (5) years or fined not more than one hundred thousand dollars

($100,000), or both.

      (ii)(iv) A controlled substance, classified in schedule III or IV, is guilty of a crime, and

upon conviction, may be imprisoned for not more than twenty (20) years, or fined not more than

forty thousand dollars ($40,000), or both; provided, with respect to a controlled substance

classified in schedule III(d), upon conviction may be imprisoned for not more than five (5) years,

or fined not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), or both.

      (iii)(v) A controlled substance, classified in schedule V, is guilty of a crime and upon

conviction may be imprisoned for not more than one year, or fined not more than ten thousand

dollars ($10,000), or both.

      (b) (1) Except as authorized by this chapter, it is unlawful for any person to create,

deliver, or possess with intent to deliver, a counterfeit substance.

      (2) Any person who violates this subsection with respect to:

      (i) A counterfeit substance, classified in schedule I or II, is guilty of a crime and upon

conviction may be imprisoned for not more than thirty (30) years, or fined not more than one

hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), or both;

      (ii) A counterfeit substance, classified in schedule III or IV, is guilty of a crime and upon

conviction may be imprisoned for not more than twenty (20) years, or fined not more than forty

thousand dollars ($40,000), or both; provided, with respect to a controlled substance classified in

schedule III(d), upon conviction may be imprisoned for not more than five (5) years, or fined not

more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), or both.

      (iii) A counterfeit substance, classified in schedule V, is guilty of a crime and upon

LC004368 - Page 29 of 47

conviction may be imprisoned for not more than one year, or fined not more than ten thousand

dollars ($10,000), or both.

      (c) (1) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally to possess a

controlled substance, unless the substance was obtained directly from, or pursuant to, a valid

prescription or order of a practitioner while acting in the course of his or her professional

practice, or except as otherwise authorized by this chapter or exempt from arrest by chapters 28.9

or 28.10 of title 21.

      (2) Any person who violates this subsection with respect to:

      (i) A controlled substance classified in schedules I, II and III, IV, and V, except the

substance classified as marijuana, is guilty of a crime and upon conviction may be imprisoned for

not more than three (3) years, or fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than

five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both;

      (ii) More than one ounce (1 oz.) of a controlled substance classified in schedule I as

marijuana is guilty of a misdemeanor except for those persons subject to (a)(1) of this section and

upon conviction may be imprisoned for not more than one year, or fined not less than two

hundred dollars ($200) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both.

      (iii) Notwithstanding any public, special, or general law to the contrary, the possession

of one ounce (1 oz.) or less of marijuana by a person who is eighteen (18) years of age or older

but who is less than twenty-one (21) years of age and who is not exempted from penalties

pursuant to chapter 28.6 of this title shall constitute a civil offense, rendering the offender liable

to a civil penalty in the amount of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) and forfeiture of the

marijuana, but not to any other form of criminal or civil punishment or disqualification.

Notwithstanding any public, special, or general law to the contrary, this civil penalty of one

hundred fifty dollars ($150) and forfeiture of the marijuana shall apply if the offense is the first

(1st) or second (2nd) violation within the previous eighteen (18) months.

      (iv) Notwithstanding any public, special, or general law to the contrary, possession of

one ounce (1 oz.) or less of marijuana by a person who is under the age of eighteen (18) years and

who is not exempted from penalties pursuant to chapter 28.6 of this title shall constitute a civil

offense, rendering the offender liable to a civil penalty in the amount of one hundred fifty dollars

($150) and forfeiture of the marijuana; provided the minor offender completes an approved, drug-

awareness program and community service as determined by the court. If the person under the

age of eighteen (18) years fails to complete an approved, drug-awareness program and

community service within one year of the disposition, the penalty shall be a three hundred dollar

($300) civil fine and forfeiture of the marijuana, except that if no drug-awareness program or

LC004368 - Page 30 of 47

community service is available, the penalty shall be a fine of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) and

forfeiture of the marijuana. The parents or legal guardian of any offender under the age of

eighteen (18) shall be notified of the offense and the availability of a drug-awareness and

community-service program. The drug-awareness program must be approved by the court, but

shall, at a minimum, provide four (4) hours of instruction or group discussion and ten (10) hours

of community service. Notwithstanding any other public, special, or general law to the contrary,

this civil penalty shall apply if the offense is the first or second violation within the previous

eighteen (18) months.

      (v) Notwithstanding any public, special, or general law to the contrary, a person who is

less than twenty-one (21) years of age and who is not exempted from penalties pursuant to

chapter 28.6 of this title found in possession of one ounce (1 oz.) or less of marijuana is guilty of

a misdemeanor and upon conviction may be imprisoned for not more than thirty (30) days, or

fined not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both,

if that person has been previously adjudicated on a violation for possession of less than one ounce

(1 oz.) of marijuana under (c)(2)(iii) or (c)(2)(iv) of this subsection two (2) times in the eighteen

(18) months prior to the third (3rd) offense.

      (vi) Any unpaid civil fine issued under (c)(2)(iii) or (c)(2)(iv) of this subsection shall

double to three hundred dollars ($300) if not paid within thirty (30) days of the disposition. The

civil fine shall double again to six hundred dollars ($600) if it has not been paid within ninety

(90) days.

      (vii) No person may be arrested for a violation of (c)(2)(iii) or (c)(2)(iv) of this

subsection except as provided in this subparagraph. Any person in possession of an identification

card, license, or other form of identification issued by the state or any state, city, or town, or any

college or university, who fails to produce the same upon request of a police officer who informs

the person that he or she has been found in possession of what appears to the officer to be one

ounce (1 oz.) or less of marijuana, or any person without any such forms of identification who

fails or refuses to truthfully provide his or her name, address, and date of birth to a police officer

who has informed such person that the officer intends to provide such individual with a citation

for possession of one ounce (1 oz.) or less of marijuana, may be arrested.

      (viii) No violation of (c)(2)(iii) or (c)(2)(iv) of this subsection shall be considered a

violation of parole or probation.

      (ix) Any records collected by any state agency or tribunal that include personally

identifiable information about violations of (c)(2)(iii) or (c)(2)(iv) of this subsection shall not be

open to public inspection in accordance with § 8-8.2-21.

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      (3) Jurisdiction. - Any and all violations of (c)(2)(iii) and (c)(2)(iv) of this subsection

shall be the exclusive jurisdiction of the Rhode Island traffic tribunal. All money associated with

the civil fine issued under (c)(2)(iii) or (c)(2)(iv) of this subsection shall be payable to the Rhode

Island traffic tribunal. Fifty percent (50%) of all fines collected by the Rhode Island traffic

tribunal from civil penalties issued pursuant to (c)(2)(iii) or (c)(2)(iv) of this subsection shall be

expended on drug awareness and treatment programs for youth.

      (4) Additionally every person convicted or who pleads nolo contendere under paragraph

(2)(i) of this subsection or convicted or who pleads nolo contendere a second or subsequent time

under paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection, who is not sentenced to a term of imprisonment to

serve for the offense, shall be required to:

      (i) Perform up to one hundred (100) hours of community service;

      (ii) Attend and complete a drug counseling and education program as prescribed by the

director of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals

and pay the sum of four hundred dollars ($400) to help defray the costs of this program which

shall be deposited as general revenues. Failure to attend may result, after hearing by the court, in

jail sentence up to one year;

      (iii) The court shall not suspend any part or all of the imposition of the fee required by

this subsection, unless the court finds an inability to pay;

      (iv) If the offense involves the use of any automobile to transport the substance or the

substance is found within an automobile, then a person convicted or who pleads nolo contendere

under subsections (2)(i) and (ii) of this subsection shall be subject to a loss of license for a period

of six (6) months for a first offense and one year for each offense after.

      (5) All fees assessed and collected pursuant to paragraph (3)(ii) of this subsection shall

be deposited as general revenues and shall be collected from the person convicted or who pleads

nolo contendere before any other fines authorized by this chapter.

      (d) It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, distribute, or possess with intent

to manufacture or distribute, an imitation controlled substance. Any person who violates this

subsection is guilty of a crime and upon conviction shall be subject to the same term of

imprisonment and/or fine as provided by this chapter for the manufacture or distribution of the

controlled substance that the particular imitation controlled substance forming the basis of the

prosecution was designed to resemble and/or represented to be; but in no case shall the

imprisonment be for more than five (5) years nor the fine for more than twenty thousand dollars

($20,000).

      (e) It shall be unlawful for a practitioner to prescribe, order, distribute, supply, or sell an

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anabolic steroid or human growth hormone for: (1) Enhancing performance in an exercise, sport,

or game, or (2) Hormonal manipulation intended to increase muscle mass, strength, or weight

without a medical necessity. Any person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor

and upon conviction may be imprisoned for not more than six (6) months or a fine of not more

than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.

      (f) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly or intentionally possess, manufacture,

distribute, or possess with intent to manufacture or distribute any extract, compound, salt

derivative, or mixture of salvia divinorum or datura stramonium or its extracts unless the person

is exempt pursuant to the provisions of § 21-28-3.30. Notwithstanding any laws to the contrary,

any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, may be

imprisoned for not more than one year, or fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or

both. The provisions of this section shall not apply to licensed physicians, pharmacists, and

accredited hospitals and teaching facilities engaged in the research or study of salvia divinorum or

datura stramonium and shall not apply to any person participating in clinical trials involving the

use of salvia divinorum or datura stramonium.

     21-28-4.01.1. Minimum sentence -- Certain quantities of controlled substances. -- (a)

Except as authorized by this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, sell, or

possess with intent to manufacture, or sell, a controlled substance classified in schedules I or II

(excluding marijuana) or to possess or deliver the following enumerated quantities of certain

controlled substances:

      (1) One ounce (1 oz.) to one kilogram (1 kg.) of a mixture or substance containing a

detectable amount of heroin;

      (2) One ounce (1 oz.) to one kilogram (1 kg.) of a mixture or substance containing a

detectable amount of:

      (i) Coca leaves, except coca leaves and extracts of coca leaves from which cocaine,

ecgonine, and derivatives of ecgonine or their salts have been removed;

      (ii) Cocaine, its salts, optical and geometric isomers, and salts of isomers;

      (iii) Ecgonine, its derivatives, their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers; or

      (iv) Any compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of any of the

substances referred to in subsections (i) -- (iii) of this subdivision;

      (3) One gram (1 g.) to ten grams (10 gs.) of phencyclidine (PCP) or one hundred (100) to

one thousand (1,000) tablets of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of

phencyclidine (PCP);

      (4) One-tenth of a gram (0.1 g.) to one gram (1 g.) of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)

LC004368 - Page 33 of 47

or one hundred (100) to one thousand (1,000) tablets of a mixture or substance containing a

detectable amount of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD);

      (5) One kilogram (1 kg.) to five (5 kgs.) kilograms of a mixture containing a detectable

amount of marijuana; or

      (6) One ounce (1 oz.) to one kilogram (1 kg.) of a mixture or substance containing a

detectable amount of synthetic drugs.

      (b) Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a crime, and upon conviction,

may be imprisoned for a term up to fifty (50) years and fined not more than five hundred

thousand dollars ($500,000).

     21-28-4.01.2. Minimum sentence -- Certain quantities of controlled substances. -- (a)

Except as authorized by the chapter, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess, manufacture,

sell, or deliver the following enumerated quantities of certain controlled substances:

      (1) More than one kilogram (1 kg.) of a mixture or substance containing a detectable

amount of heroin;

      (2) More than one kilogram (1 kg.) of a mixture or substance containing a detectable

amount of:

      (i) Coca leaves, except coca leaves and extracts of coca leaves from which cocaine,

ecgonine, and derivatives of ecgonine or their salts have been removed;

      (ii) Cocaine, its salts, optical and geometric isomers, and salts of isomers;

      (iii) Ecgonine, its derivatives, their salts, isomers, and salts of isomers; or

      (iv) Any compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any quantity of any of the

substances referred to in subsections (i) -- (iii) of this subdivision;

      (3) More than ten grams (10 gs.) of phencyclidine (PCP) or more than one thousand

(1,000) tablets of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of phencyclidine (PCP);

      (4) More than one gram (1 g.) of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD); or more than one

thousand (1,000) tablets of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of lysergic acid

diethylamide (LSD);

      (5) More than five kilograms (5 kgs.) of a mixture containing a detectable amount of

marijuana; or

      (6) More than one kilogram (1 kg.) of a mixture or substance containing a detectable

amount of synthetic drugs.

      (b) Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a crime, and upon conviction,

may be imprisoned for a term up to life and fined not more than one million dollars ($1,000,000).

     SECTION 7. Chapter 31-22 of the General Laws entitled "Miscellaneous Rules" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     31-22-31. Consuming marijuana in a moving vehicle. -- (a) No person shall consume

marijuana while driving a motor vehicle on any public street or public highway within the state.

     (b) No person shall smoke marijuana while they are a passenger in a motor vehicle that is

being operated on any public street or public highway within the state.

     (c) Any person found in violation of this section may be fined not more than two hundred

dollars ($200) or have their driver's license suspended for up to six (6) months, or both, for the

first violation, and for each subsequent violation may be fined not more than five hundred dollars

($500) or have their driver's license suspended for up to one year, or both.

     (d) The original jurisdiction of this section shall be exclusively in the traffic tribunal.

     SECTION 8. Section 31-27-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-27 entitled "Motor

Vehicle Offenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-27-2. Driving under influence of liquor or drugs. -- (a) Whoever drives or

otherwise operates any vehicle in the state while under the influence of any intoxicating liquor,

drugs, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in chapter 28 of title 21, or any

combination of these, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor except as provided in subdivision (d)(3)

and shall be punished as provided in subsection (d) of this section.

      (b) (1) Any person charged under subsection (a) of this section whose blood alcohol

concentration is eight one-hundredths of one percent (.08%) or more by weight, as shown by a

chemical analysis of a blood, breath, or urine sample, shall be guilty of violating subsection (a) of

this section. This provision shall not preclude a conviction based on other admissible evidence.

Proof of guilt under this section may also be based on evidence that the person charged was under

the influence of intoxicating liquor, drugs, toluene, or any controlled substance defined in chapter

28 of title 21, or any combination of these, to a degree that rendered the person incapable of

safely operating a vehicle. The fact that any person charged with violating this section is, or has

been, legally entitled to use alcohol or a drug shall not constitute a defense against any charge of

violating this section. A person twenty-one (21) years of age or older or a person exempt from

criminal penalties for the medical use of marijuana pursuant to chapter 28.6 of title 21 shall not be

considered under the influence of marijuana solely because of the presence of marijuana

metabolites or components of marijuana unless the concentration of components of marijuana is

proven to be sufficient to cause impairment.

      (2) Whoever Except as provided in this section, whoever drives, or otherwise operates,

any vehicle in the state with a blood presence of any scheduled controlled substance as defined

within chapter 28 of title 21, as shown by analysis of a blood or urine sample, shall be guilty of a

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misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in subsection (d) of this section.

      (c) In any criminal prosecution for a violation of subsection (a) of this section, evidence

as to the amount of intoxicating liquor, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in chapter

28 of title 21, or any combination of these, in the defendant's blood at the time alleged as shown

by a chemical analysis of the defendant's breath, blood, or urine or other bodily substance, shall

be admissible and competent, provided that evidence is presented that the following conditions

have been complied with:

      (1) The defendant has consented to the taking of the test upon which the analysis is

made. Evidence that the defendant had refused to submit to the test shall not be admissible unless

the defendant elects to testify.

      (2) A true copy of the report of the test result was mailed within seventy-two (72) hours

of the taking of the test to the person submitting to a breath test.

      (3) Any person submitting to a chemical test of blood, urine, or other body fluids shall

have a true copy of the report of the test result mailed to him or her within thirty (30) days

following the taking of the test.

      (4) The test was performed according to methods and with equipment approved by the

director of the department of health of the state of Rhode Island and by an authorized individual.

      (5) Equipment used for the conduct of the tests by means of breath analysis had been

tested for accuracy within thirty (30) days preceding the test by personnel qualified as

hereinbefore provided, and breathalyzer operators shall be qualified and certified by the

department of health within three hundred sixty-five (365) days of the test.

      (6) The person arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the

influence of intoxicating liquor, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in chapter 28 of

title 21, or, any combination of these in violation of subsection (a) of this section, was afforded

the opportunity to have an additional chemical test. The officer arresting or so charging the

person shall have informed the person of this right and afforded him or her a reasonable

opportunity to exercise this right, and a notation to this effect is made in the official records of the

case in the police department. Refusal to permit an additional chemical test shall render

incompetent and inadmissible in evidence the original report.

      (d) (1) (i) Every person found to have violated subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall be

sentenced as follows: for a first violation whose blood alcohol concentration is eight one-

hundredths of one percent (.08%), but less than one-tenth of one percent (.1%), by weight, or who

has a blood presence of any scheduled controlled substance as defined in subdivision (b)(2), shall

be subject to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than three hundred

LC004368 - Page 36 of 47

dollars ($300); shall be required to perform ten (10) to sixty (60) hours of public community

restitution, and/or shall be imprisoned for up to one year. The sentence may be served in any unit

of the adult correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge and/or shall be

required to attend a special course on driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a

controlled substance; provided, however, that the court may permit a servicemember or veteran to

complete any court-approved counseling program administered or approved by the Veterans'

Administration, and his or her driver's license shall be suspended for thirty (30) days up to one

hundred eighty (180) days. The sentencing judge or magistrate may prohibit that person from

operating a motor vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system as provided in §

31-27-2.8.

      (ii) Every person convicted of a first violation whose blood alcohol concentration is one-

tenth of one percent (.1%) by weight or above, but less than fifteen hundredths of one percent

(.15%), or whose blood alcohol concentration is unknown, shall be subject to a fine of not less

than one hundred ($100) dollars, nor more than four hundred dollars ($400), and shall be required

to perform ten (10) to sixty (60) hours of public community restitution and/or shall be imprisoned

for up to one year. The sentence may be served in any unit of the adult correctional institutions in

the discretion of the sentencing judge. The person's driving license shall be suspended for a

period of three (3) months to twelve (12) months. The sentencing judge shall require attendance

at a special course on driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance

and/or alcoholic or drug treatment for the individual; provided, however, that the court may

permit a servicemember or veteran to complete any court-approved counseling program

administered or approved by the Veterans' Administration. The sentencing judge or magistrate

may prohibit that person from operating a motor vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition

interlock system as provided in § 31-27-2.8.

      (iii) Every person convicted of a first offense whose blood alcohol concentration is

fifteen hundredths of one percent (.15%) or above, or who is under the influence of a drug,

toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in subdivision (b)(1), shall be subject to a fine of

five hundred dollars ($500) and shall be required to perform twenty (20) to sixty (60) hours of

public community restitution and/or shall be imprisoned for up to one year. The sentence may be

served in any unit of the adult correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge.

The person's driving license shall be suspended for a period of three (3) months to eighteen (18)

months. The sentencing judge shall require attendance at a special course on driving while

intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance and/or alcohol or drug treatment for

the individual; provided, however, that the court may permit a servicemember or veteran to

LC004368 - Page 37 of 47

complete any court-approved counseling program administered or approved by the Veterans'

Administration. The sentencing judge or magistrate shall prohibit that person from operating a

motor vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system as provided in § 31-27-2.8.

      (2) (i) Every person convicted of a second violation within a five-year (5) period with a

blood alcohol concentration of eight one-hundredths of one percent (.08%) or above, but less than

fifteen hundredths of one percent (.15%), or whose blood alcohol concentration is unknown, or

who has a blood presence of any controlled substance as defined in subdivision (b)(2), and every

person convicted of a second violation within a five-year (5) period, regardless of whether the

prior violation and subsequent conviction was a violation and subsequent conviction under this

statute or under the driving under the influence of liquor or drugs statute of any other state, shall

be subject to a mandatory fine of four hundred dollars ($400). The person's driving license shall

be suspended for a period of one year to two (2) years, and the individual shall be sentenced to

not less than ten (10) days, nor more than one year, in jail. The sentence may be served in any

unit of the adult correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge; however, not

less than forty-eight (48) hours of imprisonment shall be served consecutively. The sentencing

judge shall require alcohol or drug treatment for the individual; provided, however, that the court

may permit a servicemember or veteran to complete any court-approved counseling program

administered or approved by the Veterans' Administration and shall prohibit that person from

operating a motor vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system as provided in §

31-27-2.8.

      (ii) Every person convicted of a second violation within a five-year (5) period whose

blood alcohol concentration is fifteen hundredths of one percent (.15%) or above, by weight as

shown by a chemical analysis of a blood, breath, or urine sample, or who is under the influence of

a drug, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in subdivision (b)(1), shall be subject to

mandatory imprisonment of not less than six (6) months, nor more than one year; a mandatory

fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000); and a mandatory license suspension for a

period of two (2) years from the date of completion of the sentence imposed under this

subsection. The sentencing judge shall require alcohol or drug treatment for the individual;

provided, however, that the court may permit a servicemember or veteran to complete any court

approved counseling program administered or approved by the Veterans' Administration. The

sentencing judge or magistrate shall prohibit that person from operating a motor vehicle that is

not equipped with an ignition interlock system as provided in § 31-27-2.8

      (3) (i) Every person convicted of a third or subsequent violation within a five-year (5)

period with a blood alcohol concentration of eight one-hundredths of one percent (.08%) or

LC004368 - Page 38 of 47

above, but less than fifteen hundredths of one percent (.15%), or whose blood alcohol

concentration is unknown or who has a blood presence of any scheduled controlled substance as

defined in subdivision (b)(2), regardless of whether any prior violation and subsequent conviction

was a violation and subsequent conviction under this statute or under the driving under the

influence of liquor or drugs statute of any other state, shall be guilty of a felony and be subject to

a mandatory fine of four hundred ($400) dollars. The person's driving license shall be suspended

for a period of two (2) years to three (3) years, and the individual shall be sentenced to not less

than one year and not more than three (3) years in jail. The sentence may be served in any unit of

the adult correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge; however, not less than

forty-eight (48) hours of imprisonment shall be served consecutively. The sentencing judge shall

require alcohol or drug treatment for the individual; provided, however, that the court may permit

a servicemember or veteran to complete any court-approved counseling program administered or

approved by the Veterans' Administration, and shall prohibit that person from operating a motor

vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system as provided in § 31-27-2.8.

      (ii) Every person convicted of a third or subsequent violation within a five-year (5)

period whose blood alcohol concentration is fifteen hundredths of one percent (.15%) above by

weight as shown by a chemical analysis of a blood, breath, or urine sample, or who is under the

influence of a drug, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in subdivision (b)(1), shall be

subject to mandatory imprisonment of not less than three (3) years, nor more than five (5) years; a

mandatory fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000), nor more than five thousand

dollars ($5,000); and a mandatory license suspension for a period of three (3) years from the date

of completion of the sentence imposed under this subsection. The sentencing judge shall require

alcohol or drug treatment for the individual. The sentencing judge or magistrate shall prohibit that

person from operating a motor vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system as

provided in § 31-27-2.8.

      (iii) In addition to the foregoing penalties, every person convicted of a third or

subsequent violation within a five-year (5) period, regardless of whether any prior violation and

subsequent conviction was a violation and subsequent conviction under this statute or under the

driving under the influence of liquor or drugs statute of any other state, shall be subject, in the

discretion of the sentencing judge, to having the vehicle owned and operated by the violator

seized and sold by the state of Rhode Island, with all funds obtained by the sale to be transferred

to the general fund.

      (4) Whoever drives or otherwise operates any vehicle in the state while under the

influence of any intoxicating liquor, drugs, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in

LC004368 - Page 39 of 47

chapter 28 of title 21, or any combination of these, when his or her license to operate is

suspended, revoked, or cancelled for operating under the influence of a narcotic drug or

intoxicating liquor, shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than three

(3) years and by a fine or not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000). The court shall require

alcohol and/or drug treatment for the individual; provided, the penalties provided for in § 31-27-

2(d)(4) shall not apply to an individual who has surrendered his or her license and served the

court-ordered period of suspension, but who, for any reason, has not had his or her license

reinstated after the period of suspension, revocation, or suspension has expired; provided, further,

the individual shall be subject to the provisions of §§ 31-27-2(d)(2)(i) or (ii) or 31-27-22(d)(3)(i),

(ii), or (iii) regarding subsequent offenses, and any other applicable provision of § 31-27-2.

      (5) (i) For purposes of determining the period of license suspension, a prior violation

shall constitute any charge brought and sustained under the provisions of this section or § 31-27-

2.1.

      (ii) Any person over the age of eighteen (18) who is convicted under this section for

operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, other drugs, or a combination of

these, while a child under the age of thirteen (13) years was present as a passenger in the motor

vehicle when the offense was committed, may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not

more than one year, and further, shall not be entitled to the benefit of suspension or deferment of

this sentence. The sentence imposed under this section may be served in any unit of the adult

correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge.

      (6) (i) Any person convicted of a violation under this section shall pay a highway

assessment fine of five hundred dollars ($500) that shall be deposited into the general fund. The

assessment provided for by this subsection shall be collected from a violator before any other

fines authorized by this section.

      (ii) Any person convicted of a violation under this section shall be assessed a fee of

eighty-six dollars ($86).

      (7) (i) If the person convicted of violating this section is under the age of eighteen (18)

years, for the first violation he or she shall be required to perform ten (10) to sixty (60) hours of

public community restitution and the juvenile's driving license shall be suspended for a period of

six (6) months, and may be suspended for a period up to eighteen (18) months. The sentencing

judge shall also require attendance at a special course on driving while intoxicated or under the

influence of a controlled substance and alcohol or drug education and/or treatment for the

juvenile. The juvenile may also be required to pay a highway assessment fine of no more than

five hundred dollars ($500) and the assessment imposed shall be deposited into the general fund.

LC004368 - Page 40 of 47

      (ii) If the person convicted of violating this section is under the age of eighteen (18)

years, for a second or subsequent violation regardless of whether any prior violation and

subsequent conviction was a violation and subsequent under this statute or under the driving

under the influence of liquor or drugs statute of any other state, he or she shall be subject to a

mandatory suspension of his or her driving license until such time as he or she is twenty-one (21)

years of age and may, in the discretion of the sentencing judge, also be sentenced to the Rhode

Island training school for a period of not more than one year and/or a fine of not more than five