Those seeking to qualify for a medical marijuana card in Rhode Island must be able to verify their in-state residency by providing a copy of any of the below forms of identification:
* A Rhode Island driver’s license
* A Rhode Island State ID card
* Current car insurance bill
* A Current Voter Registration Card
* Any correspondence from another state agency
If you can verify your residence, then follow the below as next steps:
Get in touch with a licensed and cannabis-friendly medical provider in Rhode Island. Schedule a medical marijuana consultation to complete the Practitioner Written Certification Form. Bring your medical records to verify that you have a qualifying condition. In addition to medical records, be sure to have a valid photo ID and the Patient Application Form during your consultation.
Register and apply for a medical marijuana card online. Submit your completed Patient Application Form along with a valid phone number, email address and a $50 application fee. You may qualify for a reduced price if you can provide proof that you receive one of the following forms of assistance:
* Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
* Medicaid
* Social Security Disability Income (SSDI)
* Veteran’s Disability
* Federal Railroad Disability Benefit
* Wait for approval. Most applications get processed within 14 days. If approved, you will be contacted to come to take your photograph for your ID card. You will receive your medical marijuana card at your appointment.
Rhode Island residents have been eligible to apply for a medical marijuana card under the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act since 2006.
The purpose of the program is to protect medical marijuana patients, allowing them to treat their conditions with legal cannabis in a safe manner, protected from arrest or prosecution.
In 2017, the Rhode Island Supreme Court determined that one’s employer could not impede an employee’s legal medical marijuana use, protecting their employment status and right to medicate.