Rhode Island was the 11th US state to legalize the use of medical cannabis. The state took this initiative back in 2006. Since then, the state has credibly upgraded its cannabis laws in favor of patients who need cannabis-focused treatment for their well-being. The state does allow patients who are not yet 18 to apply for a medical marijuana card, but they must be accompanied by a designated caregiver.
Eligibility requirements for a medical marijuana card in Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island follows the standard eligibility criteria set to determine whether a patient can get access to medical marijuana or not. As per the criteria, the patient must be a resident of Rhode Island and must have a valid medical marijuana recommendation from a certified medical doctor. A patient who is not yet 18 can also apply for a medical marijuana card with the help of a designated caregiver.
Qualifying medical conditions
As per the state law, a patient must be diagnosed with one of the following qualifying medical conditions in order to be marked eligible for a Rhode Island medical marijuana card,
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Crohn’s disease
- Hepatitis
- Cancer
- Chronic pain
- Autism/Asperger syndrome
- Epilepsy and seizure disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (minors arenât eligible)
- Glaucoma
- Cachexia (Wasting Syndrome)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Nausea and vomiting
- AIDS/HIV
What exactly is a caregiver?
The cannabis laws effective within the state of Rhode Island clearly state that a caregiver is an individual who has the legal right to aid patients who are not yet 18 or patients who canât access medical cannabis due to some disability. The main responsibility of a caregiver is cannabis purchase/possession on behalf of the patient. A caregiver needs to separately apply for a license.
Medical Marijuana Laws for minors in Rhode Island
The medical marijuana laws are similar for both qualifying adult and minor patients within the state. Some of the key points of these laws include,
- Medical cannabis users can possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana in person and up to 10 ounces of marijuana within their residence.
- Qualifying patients also have the right to grow up to 12 cannabis plants and 12 seedling as long as they are cultivating within their closed private properties.
- Public consumption of medical cannabis and related products is illegal.
Final Note
The state of Rhode Island has been upgrading its cannabis laws with an approach to adopt a more future-oriented policy. From what we know, we can tell that this is something that will be happening quite soon.