Rhode Island becomes 19th state to legalise marijuana

Rhode Island has become the 19th US state to legalise marijuana after a bill was signed on Wednesday (May 25).

This means that adults 21 and over can purchase and possess up to one ounce of cannabis and grow up to six plants.

Read this next: MPs believe cannabis will be legal in the UK within the next decade

Possession and cultivation of weed are legal immediately, however, the first retail stores will not open until December 1 2022, at the earliest. The maximum amount of marijuana any household can legally have is 10 ounces.

Governor Dan McKee (Democrat) signed the legislation bill just one day after the legislature sent it to his desk.

Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos (Democrat), Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey (Democrat), Rep. Scott Slater (Democrat) and Sen. Joshua Miller (Democrat) joined the governor at the signing.

Read this next: 20 smoked-out dub tunes for your 420 soundtrack

The new law includes automatic expungement of past cannabis convictions which fall under the now given legal limit — as confirmed by Governor McKee.

It is expected for this to come into effect by July 1 2024 - however, those who petition the court for relief can have their cases expedited.

Read this next: Bust to boom: How drugs won the war on drugs

Governor McKee said: “[Passing the legislation] took a great deal of effort—it certainly wasn’t a straight line. It took hundreds of hours of work, meetings, stakeholders sessions, negotiations and collaboration. And that’s how good legislation gets done.”

“The bill I signed today into law ensures that legalization is equitable, controlled and safe,” he said. “Those were three things that were very important to all of us when we were negotiating this final agreement as Rhode Island begins this new chapter.”

Read this next: Cannabis found to prevent COVID in lab research

Jared Moffat, state campaigns manager for the Marijuana Policy Project said: "After years of persistent advocacy by organizations and supporters across the state, lawmakers have enacted a well-crafted cannabis legalization law that will create new opportunities for Rhode Islanders and begin the process of addressing decades of harm caused by prohibition.

"There is more work to be done to ensure that the full promise and potential of this legislation is achieved, but today is a day for us to celebrate and recognize that the hard work of organizing and educating eventually pays off."

[Via: Marijuana Moment ]

Aneesa Ahmed is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter