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HB 8426

AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE EDWARD O. HAWKINS AND THOMAS C. SLATER MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Scott Slater

Rhode Island would create and regulate a phased system of licensed compassion centers (medical marijuana dispensaries) with strict licensing, security, testing, and patient-access

05/21/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · HB 8426

Overview

  • Bill: HB 8426
  • Session: 2026
  • Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
  • Title: AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE EDWARD O. HAWKINS AND THOMAS C. SLATER MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT
  • Introduced by: Rep. Scott Slater
  • Referred to: House Corporations
  • Effective date: Upon passage

Purpose and intent

  • The bill aims to regulate and expand Rhode Island’s medical marijuana program through the creation and operation of compassion centers (medical marijuana dispensaries) and to establish regulatory oversight, licensing processes, security, testing, labeling, and patient access standards.
  • It sets out a staged licensing framework intended to grow the number of compassion centers over time and to structure the involvement of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Business Regulation (DBR).

Key provisions and changes

  • Compassion centers authorized to acquire, possess, cultivate, manufacture, deliver, transfer, transport, supply, or dispense medical marijuana, related supplies, and educational materials to:
    • Registered qualifying patients
    • Registered primary caregivers
    • Authorized purchasers
    • Out-of-state patient cardholders
    • Other marijuana establishment licensees
  • Regulatory framework and licensing timing:
    • DOH to promulgate regulations within 90 days after the act’s effective date:
    • License application form/content
    • Oversight, record-keeping, security, and license suspension/revocation protocols
    • DOH to begin accepting applications for a single compassion center within 90 days
    • At least one public hearing on a single compassion center license within 150 days
    • DOH to grant a single license within 190 days (if a qualified applicant exists)
    • If no centers are operational after 15 months, DOH must accept applications again
    • By 2 years after the effective date, DBR must begin accepting applications for two additional centers
  • Applications and licensing requirements:
    • Each compassion center application must include:
    • $10,000 non-refundable fee
    • Legal name, articles of incorporation
    • Proposed location(s)
    • Security plans, inventory controls, and record-keeping procedures
  • Public input:
    • For applications before 2017, DOH (or DBR after 2017) must solicit public input and local input
  • Considerations for approvals:
    • Factors include patient access, supply reliability, track record, community impact, local need, and security/record-keeping plans
    • Up to nine centers may hold licenses; process designed to reach nine centers over time
  • Startup requirements for centers:
    • Pre-approval (before operations) requires specific filings and fees
    • Early approvals tied to evolving regulations (pre-2017 vs post-2017)
    • Substantial upfront fee for centers approved after July 1, 2019 ($500,000, payable in quarterly installments)
    • Additional disclosure of ownership interests to DBR (including indirect or shared management arrangements)
  • Registration and background checks:
    • Registry identification cards issued to principals, board members, agents, volunteers, employees
    • Background checks through state police, FBI fingerprints
    • Fees for background checks borne by applicants (except employees with no ownership)
    • Cards expire after 1 year or upon license expiration/termination
    • Changes in personal information require updated registry cards and fees
    • Disqualifying criminal convictions can lead to suspension or revocation
  • Operational requirements for centers:
    • Not-for-profit operation for patient benefit
    • Security, safety, testing, packaging, labeling, advertising restrictions
    • Inventory limits (see dispensing limits)
    • Proximity restrictions (no center within 1,000 feet of a school boundary)
    • Responsible conduct rules for staff and confidentiality training
    • Rhode Island residency requirement for principal officers and board members
    • On-site patient education materials (FAQ on patient rights and limits)
  • Testing, labeling, and product standards:
    • Centers must comply with testing standards for cannabinoids and contaminants (effective July 1, 2017)
    • Product labeling requirements (effective Jan 1, 2017)
    • Confidentiality protections for patient records
  • Patient and possession rules:
    • Centers may dispense up to 2.5 ounces (roughly 70.9 grams) of usable marijuana per 15 days to a patient directly or via the caregiver/purchaser
    • Database-backed real-time checks to prevent exceeding limits
    • Hybrid cannabis retailer provisions allow sale of up to 1 ounce to adults 21+ under separate cannabis laws
  • Enforcement and penalties:
    • Fines for violations (minimum $500, and $2,000 for immediate threats)
    • Violations can lead to license denial, suspension, or revocation
    • Prohibitions on cross-licensing interests to avoid dual ownership conflicts
  • Immunity:
    • Centers, officers, employees, and state personnel are largely immune from prosecution and civil penalties for acts permitted under the act, when acting within their official duties
  • Legislative oversight:
    • Establishes a 9-member oversight committee (house member, senator, physician, nurse, two patients, one primary caregiver, one patient advocate, and the superintendent of Public Safety or designee)
    • Committee to meet at least six times per year
    • Biennial reporting to the General Assembly on access, efficacy, physician participation, definition of qualifying conditions, and health research
  • Licensing and scope:
    • No person or entity may operate as a compassion center without a DBR-issued license

Who would be affected

  • Qualified patients and their registered primary caregivers
  • Authorized purchasers and out-of-state patients with valid cards
  • Prospective and current compassion center operators (non-profit centers, board members, officers, employees, and volunteers)
  • Rhode Island residents serving as principal officers, board members, or staff of compassion centers
  • Law enforcement and public safety entities involved in background checks and security assessments
  • The general public, including towns and localities affected by siting and operations

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Regulatory rulemaking and licensing process laid out with explicit deadlines (90/90/150/190 days for rules, applications, hearings, and first license)
  • Phased expansion: start with 1 center, then up to 9 centers over time, contingent on applicant qualifications and regulatory approvals
  • Ongoing oversight and reporting requirements to keep the General Assembly informed (even-numbered-year reports)
  • Fees, background checks, and registry processes designed to ensure a regulated, traceable supply chain and strict eligibility criteria

Summary

HB 8426 proposes a comprehensive regulatory framework for Rhode Island’s medical marijuana program, emphasizing controlled growth of compassion centers, rigorous licensing and security standards, strong background checks, patient-access safeguards, and ongoing legislative oversight. It envisions a phased expansion to up to nine centers, with significant upfront and ongoing fees, strict compliance requirements, and a robust system to monitor patient access, safety, and program efficacy. The act takes effect upon passage.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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