Rhode Island Now Accepting Cannabis Compassion Center Applications
To create equal access to medicinal cannabis products, regulators divided the state into six regions, with one new license awarded per region. Applicants can apply for a license in multiple regions but can only operate a dispensary in one zone. Currently, Rhode Island has three Compassion Centers, including the Thomas C. Slater Compassion Center in Providence, the Greenleaf Compassion Center in Portsmouth, and the Summit Medical Compassion Center in Warwick.
After the deadline, all applications will be reviewed by the DBR, and those deemed complete will qualify for the lottery process. Once the review of all applications is finished, the department will publicly announce the qualified applicants for each zone and the date, time, and manner of the lottery.
If one company wins a license in multiple regions, they will need to select their preferred location. Then a new winner will be selected for the forfeited license via another lottery. Winners will have nine (9) months to complete all prerequisites for issuance of the license; exceptions will only be made for well documented and approved circumstances. Prerequisites include the payment of the $500,000 annual Compassion Center Registration Fee.
These highly coveted and valuable licenses will require a comprehensive application. 3C has assisted clients in over 50 markets with business planning and development, project management, license application content writing, and application submission following all regulatory requirements of each market. If you are interested in submitting applications for this round of Compassion Center licenses in Rhode Island, schedule an exploratory consultation with us. Read on for a high-level overview of the requirements and regulatory changes associated with these applications.
General Application Requirements
- Business Plan
- Security and Safety Plan
- Operations Manual
- Proposed Physical Location
- Certification of Nonprofit Compliance
- Owners Disclosures and Certifications
- Disclosure of Financial Interest or Control in Another Rhode Island Cannabis Business
- Management Agreement (If applicable)
- Organization Chart and Schedule of Compensation/Remuneration
- Legal and Operational Compliance Plan
- Evidence of Appointment of a Compliance Officer
- Licenses, Disciplinary Actions, Denials of Applications
- Tax Affidavit
- And more
Additional information and written materials to demonstrate the Compassion Center’s ability to comply with the application review criteria are required. Review the Rules and Regulations and the Compassion Center License Application for complete details.
The State's Six Licensing Regions
- Zone 1
- Burrillville, Cumberland, Glocester, North Smithfield, Smithfield, and Woonsocket.
- Zone 2
- Central Falls, Johnston, Lincoln, North Providence, and Providence.
- This zone already has one licensed Compassion Center.
- Zone 3
- Coventry, Foster, Scituate, West Greenwich, and West Warwick.
- Zone 4
- Cranston, East Greenwich, North Kingstown, and Warwick.
- This zone already has one licensed Compassion Center.
- Zone 5
- Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, Narragansett, Richmond, South Kingstown, and Westerly.
- Zone 6
- Barrington, Bristol, East Providence, Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, New Shoreham, Pawtucket, Portsmouth, Tiverton, and Warren.
- This zone already has one licensed Compassion Center.
Other Regulatory Changes
- Any person or entity is prohibited from being an interest holder in more than one compassion center application per zone.
Fees
- $10,000 non-refundable application fee per application.
- $500,000 annual Compassion Center Registration Fee (Pre-license issuance, if awarded a license)
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