Rhode Island committee postpones recreational marijuana recommendation

The push to legalize recreational marijuana in Rhode Island hit a snag when a state commission delayed until next year issuing a recommendation that could have advanced the adult-use issue.

The commission – a group of medical marijuana patients, clinicians and law enforcement officials that was formed in June – won’t release a recommendation on whether to legalize recreational cannabis in the state until 2019, Providence TV station WPRI reported.

Here’s what you need to know:

• The commission, which has met four times since October, was expected to release its findings to lawmakers March 1.
• A spokesman for the House speaker said that even though the commission delayed making a recommendation, adult-use legalization isn’t officially dead for the year. Legislation could still theoretically be passed this year, he told WPRI.
• There are bills in both the state House and Senate to extend the panel’s work.
• In January, the governor made a push to expand Rhode Island’s medical marijuana program for 2019.