Possession:
-Minimum: $200 fine, no jail time

-Maximum: $500 fine, 1 year

Sales/Manufacturing:
-Minimum: $3,000 fine, no jail time

-Maximum: $100,000 fine, 30 years

Pending Legislation:
-House Bill 7838, Taxation and Regulation of Marijuana Act
Legalizes possession, sale and manufacture of marijuana in limited amounts for adults over 21; under review by House Judiciary Committee

-House Bill 7317
Reduces possession of marijuana penalties from misdemeanor to civil offense; awaits review by House Judiciary Committee

Data based on first offense. Penalties can vary based on circumstance and official discretion.

Possession (Adults & Juvenile): 2,012

Sale & Manufacturing (Adult & Juvenile): 218

Juvenile Arrests (Possession & Sale): 363

Total Marijuana Related Arrests: 2,230

Arrests Per Capita: 2 out of 1,000

DEA Seizures (Marijuana): 57 pounds

Summary: Law became effective Jan. 3, 2006. Law was amended in June 2009 to allow limited number of state-licensed dispensaries. The first dispensary is scheduled to be announced July 10, 2010.

Registered Patients: 1,502

Amount Allowed: 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana, 12 plants

Qualifying Conditions: Cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis C, cachexia, chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, epilepsy, muscle spasms (symptoms of Crohn’s disease, Alzheimer’s Disease)

Distribution System: Recently approved three state-licensed dispensaries or 'compassion centers' (Not yet implemented)

Patient/ Caretaker Registration Fee: $75 (initial), $10 with proof of Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Insurance

Dispensary Fee: $5,000

- Bill to Decriminalize Marijuana unveiled in RI Senate (newsblog.projo.com)

- Lawmakers Wary of Marijuana Legislation (eastbayri.com)

- RI Panel Endorses Marijuana Decriminalization (bostonherald.com)