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How to Get a Medical Card in Rhode Island.

  1. 1

    Register online with Leafwell

    You’ll be able to register online with Leafwell and book an appointment with a friendly physician in Rhode Island. Our process is quick, easy, and HIPAA compliant.

  2. 2

    Discuss Medical Marijuana with your Doctor

    Speak with one of our licensed RI physicians about getting a medical cannabis certificate. You can speak to a doctor about your medical condition and qualify for a RI medical marijuana card online in minutes.

    The cost of the online consultation will be $149, and you are only billed if approved.

  3. 3

    Receive your certificate from Leafwell

    Once approved by a Leafwell physician, you can apply to the state.

    You receive the hard copy of the certificate in the mail (typically takes 5-7 days). Then fill in all your details on the state application form and send it off with your physician’s certification from Leafwell.

    Applications should be sent to:

    Rhode Island Center For Professional Licensing Room 105A – 3 Capitol Hill
    Providence, RI 02908-5097

  4. 4

    Receive Your Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Card

    You will receive your Rhode Island medical marijuana card in two to four weeks.

    Get your medical cannabis from a dispensary or even have it delivered to your door.

    More information about the Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Program can be found here.

Benefits of Getting a Rhode Island Medical Card

Adult-use cannabis is now legal in Rhode Island. However, there are still many benefits to getting a Rhode Island medical marijuana card.

Pay less in taxes. Recreational cannabis purchases charge a 13% sales tax compared to 7% for medical marijuana.

Access to licensed dispensaries. These dispensaries have various products with standardized prices and quality, plus trained personnel who can help you find the right products for your medical condition.

Increased possession and growing limits. With a medical marijuana card, you can carry 2.5 ounces of cannabis flower (up to 10 ounces on your property) and up to one ounce of cannabis concentrate. People with medical marijuana cards can also cultivate and grow their own plants.

About Medical Marijuana in Rhode Island

Rhode Islanders must see a qualifying physician in person to receive a recommendation for medical marijuana.

Here’s a brief history of medical marijuana in Rhode Island:

  • 2005 – After much legal wrangling, Senate Bill 0710 (SB 0710) is passed. It became known as the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act.
  • 2007 – SB 791 is passed, removing the repeal date for the Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Act and expanding the definition of a primary caregiver.
  • 2009 – H5359 is passed and includes instructions for selling, creating, administering, and regulating medical marijuana dispensaries.
  • 2013 – The first compassion center (aka medical marijuana dispensary) opened.
  • December 2022 — Recreational (adult-use) marijuana is legalized in the state.
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How to qualify

To apply for a Medical Marijuana Card in Rhode Island, you must be a legal resident of Rhode Island.

You must be 18 to get a medical marijuana card in Rhode Island.

Those under 18, or those who cannot access medical cannabis for themselves, must have a registered caregiver who applies on their behalf.

An application to the Rhode Island government must include a signed and dated certificate for medical marijuana from a registered practitioner. No prior relationship with a physician is required to qualify for medical marijuana in Rhode Island. However, doctors must be licensed to practice in Rhode Island before recommending cannabis for a patient in Rhode Island.

  1. Information for caregivers
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    • Registered caregivers must be aged 21 or over.
    • A registered caregiver may apply on behalf of someone unable to complete the application independently.

Medical Conditions

According to Rhode Island law, the following conditions may qualify you for a medical marijuana card:

Patient must be 18 to qualify with PTSD

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Possession and Growing

The current possession limits in Rhode Island for medical cardholders are 2.5 oz. of flower on-person and up to 10 ounces on one’s property, residential or non-residential.

Qualifying patients may grow up to 12 plants and 12 seedlings. All marijuana must be cultivated in one location, and the plants must be stored in an indoor facility and tagged with plant tag certificates purchased from the Department of Business Regulation.

This may seem surprisingly generous for a medical marijuana program. Still, it highlights that there are not many medical marijuana dispensaries in the state, and therefore the ability to cultivate is essential for many cardholders.

Two or more cardholders may cooperatively cultivate marijuana in residential or non-residential locations subject to the following restrictions:

  • Non-residential – no more than 10 ounces of usable marijuana, 48 mature marijuana plants, and 48 seedlings.
  • Residential – no more than 10 ounces of usable marijuana, 24 mature marijuana plants, and 24 seedlings.
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Caregivers

Medical Marijuana patients in Rhode Island can have a caregiver.

Some patients may be eligible for an MMJ card but cannot apply themselves. For example, should the patient be a minor under 18, or if the patient needs assistance accessing medical cannabis, a caregiver can be assigned to complete the process on their behalf. The caregiver must be listed on the patient's application form and comply with the following conditions:

  1. 01

    Must be at least 21.

  2. 02

    Must live in Rhode Island and submit a copy of one item that proves you live in the state.

    Accepted documents include:

    • Rhode Island driver’s license or state ID
    • Correspondence from another state agency
    • Current vehicle registration or car insurance bill
    • Voter’s registration card

  3. 03

    You must get a copy of a National Criminal Information Center (NCIC) background check and include fingerprints.

    You can make an appointment with several Rhode Island agencies to get the check:

    • Local police departments
    • The Office of the Rhode Island Attorney General
    • Rhode Island State Police

    A background check is valid for two years and can be reused if you apply as a caregiver for another patient.

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Frequently asked questions in Rhode Island

How much does a Rhode Island medical marijuana card cost?

Rhode Islanders must visit a physician in person to be approved for a medical marijuana card; costs vary depending on the provider.

There are no state fees to apply for a medical marijuana card in Rhode Island. Caregivers can also apply for free, but they must pay for — and arrange — their own background checks.

The state does charge $10 for replacement medical marijuana cards.

What medical conditions qualify for a medical marijuana card in Rhode Island?
What do I need to know about applying for my medical marijuana in Rhode Island online?

You cannot apply for a medical marijuana card online in Rhode Island. Instead, you must first visit a qualifying physician in person to receive your recommendation.

Once you have a recommendation, you must gather the necessary documents needed for your application:

  • Proof of citizenship and Rhode Island residency. Proof of citizenship and residency can be a driver’s license, vehicle or voter registration, car insurance bill, or other official documents that show your full name and home address.
  • Medical records.

Complete your application and send it to the state with your supporting documents. There is no fee to apply for a medical marijuana card in Rhode Island.

The state agency will contact you if your application is approved to take your photograph. This can be done in person or online.

You’ll receive your Rhode Island medical marijuana card in the mail within two to four weeks.

How old do I have to be to apply for a medical marijuana card in Rhode Island?
Can I be/have a caregiver for a medical marijuana patient in Rhode Island?

Medical marijuana patients in Rhode Island can have a caregiver. A primary caregiver must be at least 21 and a resident of Rhode Island. A primary caregiver can assist no more than five patients with their use of medical marijuana. Patients are limited to one caregiver.

To apply as a caregiver, follow this process:

  1. Get Designated. Work with the patient to determine who is/are the most appropriate caregiver(s). Note that the patient always provides caregiver information. The application includes information on how to get the required background check. https://health.ri.gov/forms/registration/MedicalMarijuanaNewApplication.pdf
  2. Application and certification forms are filled out; Caregiver is designated.
  3. Once approved, patient and caregiver will be sent a medical marijuana identification card.

Patients must indicate on their application whether they plan to grow medical marijuana plants for themselves. Patients who will grow marijuana and all primary caregivers must register their grow location with the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Everyone who grows marijuana, whether a patient or primary caregiver, must purchase plant tags from the Department of Business Regulation and is subject to their rules and regulations for tag use.

How do I apply for the state program in Rhode Island?

Before you start, have these supporting documents ready:

  • Your Practitioner Form from Leafwell – mailed within 5-7 days
  • A check or money order – application fee is $50 but the following patients may qualify for the discounted $25 fee
    • Recipients of Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), Federal Railroad Disability benefit or Veterans’ Disability

Getting Your Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Card

  1. Download and print the Patient Application Form
  2. Complete the Patient Application Form and sign it by hand
    1. Designate a caregiver (if applicable)
    2. Designated an authorised purchase (if applicable)
  1. Send the completed application (with the check or money order payable to the Rhode Island General Treasurer) to:

    Rhode Island Center For Professional Licensing

    Room 105A – 3 Capitol Hill

    Providence, RI 02908-5097

  2. Receive your medical marijuana card in the mail in 2-4 weeks
  3. Legally purchase medical marijuana
    1. To purchase medical cannabis, you must bring your medical cannabis card and a valid form of photo identification, such as a driver’s license, with you to the pharmacy.