Medical Marijuana

Rhode Island Online Renewal Portal

Medical Marijuana Program patients, caregivers, and authorized purchasers can use this online portal for applications and renewals.

If you have problems or need help using the online portal, email the Help Desk at RICannabisTechSupport@mtxb2b.com. The Help Desk will answer your email within one business day.

The RIDOH Cannabis Licensing Portal User Guide has step-by-step directions on how to use the online portal.

As of December 1, 2022, there is no fee for an application for a patient, caregiver, or authorized purchaser. Any application received on or after December 1 will be free to process.

The Rhode Island Department of Health Medical Marijuana Program implements the provisions of the Medical Marijuana Act and regulations for registered patients, caregivers, and authorized purchasers. The Medical Marijuana Program accepts, reviews, and approves patient, caregiver and authorized purchaser applications and renewals. Rhode Island's Medical Marijuana Act does not change federal statutes and regulations that prohibit the possession and use of marijuana.

Approved Qualifying Debilitating Medical Conditions

• Cancer or cancer treatment
• Glaucoma or glaucoma treatment
• Positive HIV status or HIV treatment
• AIDS or treatment for AIDS
• Hepatitis C or treatment for Hepatitis C
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Patient must be 18 or older
• A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one or more of the following:
  • Cachexia or wasting syndrome
  • Severe, debilitating, chronic pain
  • Severe nausea
  • Seizures, including but not limited to, those characteristic of epilepsy
  • Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to, those characteristic of multiple sclerosis or Crohn's disease
  • Agitation related to Alzheimer's disease

 

Expedited applications

Applications for patients receiving chemotherapy or who are eligible for hospice care will be expedited and approved within 72 hours. The certifying physician will indicate on the Practitioner Written Certification Form the need to expedite an application based on these criteria.

Registration card expiration and renewal

Patient and caregiver registrations issued or renewed after January 1, 2017, will expire one year from the date it was issued. Registrations issued or renewed on or before December 31, 2016, will expire on the date indicated on the registry identification cards. Registrations renewed after January 1, 2017, will expire one year after the date it was issued.

The Rhode Island Department of Health will approve or deny an application or renewal within 35 days of receiving the application and all required documents.

Authorized purchasers

A patient may designate an authorized purchaser to assist in purchasing and delivering marijuana from a compassion center. Each authorized purchaser can only assist one patient. An authorized purchaser must be 21 years old and pass a National Criminal Identification Check. An authorized purchaser may live out of state. Patients can have one authorized purchaser.

Primary caregivers

A primary caregiver must be at least 21 years of age and live in Rhode Island. A primary caregiver can assist no more than five patients with their use of medical marijuana. Patients can have one caregiver.

As of January 1, 2017, anyone applying for a primary caregiver registration must be a resident of Rhode Island. Caregivers who received registrations on or before December 31, 2016, will keep their primary caregiver status, but will need to show proof of Rhode Island residency to qualify for renewal when their caregiver registration expires.

Growing marijuana

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 Business Regulations, 401-889-5607.

Licensing Analytical Laboratories for Sampling and Testing Medical Marijuana

For more information on how to get licensed as a Medical Marijuana Laboratory review this fact sheet for applicants.The Medical Marijuana Laboratory Licensing Program administers the provisions of regulation 216-RICR-60-05-6 for the purpose of licensing analytical laboratories to collect and analyze medical marijuana products cultivated and/or manufactured by licensed cultivators, compassion centers and producers.

 

Continuing Education/Training

Plant Tag Certificate and Renewal Update - a new and improved system for issuing medical marijuana plant tags is now available at the Office of Cannabis Regulation. You are now able to renew your orders, update your grow address and print a Plant Tag Certificate which will reflect the number of plant tags issued to the cardholder.more