Rhode Island’s governor has called for an increase in medical marijuana dispensaries in the state and a hike in licensing fees to generate another $1.5 million in revenue.
Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo submitted a budget amendment June 9 calling for “no less than six licensed compassion centers,” the Providence Journal reported.
However, those three dispensaries – in Providence, Warwick and Portsmouth – have resisted a bill that would create additional MMJ businesses, arguing there’s no demonstrated need for more dispensaries. Rhode Island has more than 16,000 MMJ patients.
State Budget Officer Thomas Mullaney wrote in a letter that the additional dispensaries would be located in “underserved areas” of the state.
The governor’s budget amendment calls for an increase in compassion center application fees from $250 to $5,000 and annual licensing fees from $5,000 to $25,000.
– Associated Press
