Rhode Island Marijuana Regulators Discuss Stalled Licensing Process Following Federal Court Ruling
New GOP Bill Would Require Feds To Study Hospital Costs Caused By Marijuana Use
Congress Has The Votes To Pass Federal Marijuana Reform, Top House Democrat Says
American Farmers Grew $739 Million Worth Of Legal Hemp Last Year, New USDA Report Shows
Pennsylvania Governor Pushes Lawmakers To Legalize Marijuana On 4/20
Teen Marijuana Use Is Lower Now Than Before Legalization, Government Study From Minnesota Officials Shows
Medical Marijuana Helps People Stop Using Opioids, Sleeping Aids And Other Prescription Drugs, Study Shows
Vaporizing Marijuana Reduces Harmful Inhaled Byproducts By 99% Compared To Joint Smoking, New Study Shows
Federally Funded Study Reveals Marijuana Breathalyzer Breakthrough With 3-D Printed Roadside Tool Able To Detect THC
Alcohol And Tobacco Are More Damaging To Users And Society Than Marijuana Is, Government-Funded Study Concludes
Politicians And Major Brands Celebrate Cannabis Culture On 4/20
Woody Harrelson And Bill Maher Complain That Marijuana Taxes Are Too High While Smoking Joints At The Dispensary They Own Together
WNBA Offers To End Marijuana Testing For Women’s Basketball Players As Part Of Reported Deal With Union
DEA Promotes Anti-Marijuana PSA Contest Inviting Students To Warn Peers About THC Dangers On 4/20
Largest Entertainment Arena In US Partners With Cannabis Businesses To Sell THC Drinks At Concerts And Live Events
Target Expands Involvement In Hemp THC Drinks Market With 72 New Licenses In Minnesota
Marijuana Sales Are Rising And Alcohol Is On The Decline As Consumer Preferences Evolve, Government Data In Canada Shows
Feds Deny Snoop Dogg Request To Trademark ‘Smoke Weed Everyday’ Because Marijuana Is Illegal And Song Lyric Is Too Popular
Marijuana Kiosks For Seniors Are Coming To Independent Living Communities Across Arizona
Montana Retailers Have Sold More Than $1 Billion Worth Of Recreational Marijuana Since Legalization Took Effect
Congress wants federal study of state cannabis laws (Newsletter: April 21, 2026)
Cannabis is safer than McDonald’s, senator says (Newsletter: April 20, 2026)
Trump is planning a psychedelics executive order (Newsletter: April 17, 2026)
IRS addresses cannabis industry worker tips (Newsletter: April 16, 2026)
Virginia lawmakers push back on governor’s cannabis amendments (Newsletter: April 15, 2026)
Published
on
By
“Now we are stopped from continuing that process. But that does not mean we are stopped from figuring out the best path forward.”
By Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Currant
Commissioners and staff acknowledged applicants’ and cultivators’ frustration over the abrupt halt to the process that would award 20 new retail licenses as early as May. Commissioner Robert Jacquard said regulators had already begun coordinating with the Rhode Island Lottery on equipment and a location for the selection process.
“Now we are stopped from continuing that process,” he said. “But that does not mean we are stopped from figuring out the best path forward to reach our top priority, which is issuing retail licenses.”
Any details on the commission’s legal strategy will remain hush as it appeals the April 8 order by the U.S. District Court Judge Melissa DuBose temporarily stopping the licensing process.
“Anything used in this public forum can be used against us in the court case,” Mariana Ormonde, chief legal counsel, said at the start of her overview.
The commission is the defendant in three federal lawsuits filed by out-of-state entrepreneurs over the state’s requirement that all cannabis license holders must be majority owned by Rhode Island residents. Plaintiffs in each case argued the residency requirement violated the Dormant Commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits states from engaging in protectionist practices against other states.
Two of those cases date back to May 2024 and were dismissed by DuBose in February of last year, only to be revived in December after Boston’s federal appeals court demanded Rhode Island’s federal court rule based on the merits of the cases.
DuBose in her April 8 ruling found there was a likelihood the three lawsuits would succeed on the merits, which is why she granted the injunction. The state appealed that order Tuesday afternoon, just hours after commissioners met behind closed doors to discuss the cases.
“That is essentially what is stopping all of the commission’s processes at this point,” Ormonde said.
Which has meant 97 applicants continue to sit in limbo. Even before the injunction, applicants have vented frustration over the Cannabis Control Commission’s slow rollout for new licenses in the four years since recreational pot was legalized by the state.
“Time is of the essence,” Sasha Gorski, a cultivator and applicant for a retail shop in Providence, told the commission. “Cultivators and prospective applicants are being harmed every day that this continues. We would like to see things move forward as quickly as possible.”
Applicants and cultivators at Friday’s meeting were overall satisfied with the update provided by the commission on where the case stands—even from some of the panel’s more vocal critics.
“The explanation was perfect,” Jason Calderon, a cultivator who applied for a retail license in North Kingstown, told Rhode Island Current after the meeting. “At least it lets us know where we are.”
Attorney Allan Fung, the former Republican Cranston mayor and congressional and gubernatorial candidate who represents several retail applicants, did have some suggestions on how the state could try and solve the case during public comment.
One was to have the commission reopen the application process and have it be done on a strictly merit basis so that plaintiffs can’t argue anyone has an unfair advantage. The other suggestion was to provide the plaintiffs with conditional licenses.
“That would moot the lawsuit,” he said.
Jacquard asked Fung to send his recommendations in writing to the commission, so they could further digest the potential strategies.
“They’re very interesting, but take a while to absorb,” Jacquard said.
This story was first published by Rhode Island Currant.
Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.
Add Marijuana Moment as a preferred source on Google.
All the cannabis news you need, all in one place. Copyright © 2017-2026 Marijuana Moment LLC ® and Tom Angell