The RI budget became law without any of the proposed changes to plant counts or caregiver laws and regulations. There will also NOT be an expansion in the number of compassion centers. The existing centers will each be paying an annual licensing fee of 250,000 dollars. That is an increase of 245,000 dollars a year.
If you are a patient or caregiver who is growing, you should have received a notice from DBR by now instructing you how to use the new certification system. You can now order or renew, update your grow address and print a Plant Tag Certificate which will reflect the number of plant tags you are legally entitled to. Instead of having to pick up the actual tags at DBR, you print the certificate yourself. State law requires that all plants have tags. DBR is issuing the certifications instead of the actual tags. Patients who qualify for a reduced patient registration fee, and their caregivers, will not be charged any tag fees. Otherwise, the fees have not changed. It is still 25 dollars per plant set (one seedling and one mature plant)
If your tags have expired, order your plant tag certificate immediately in order to be compliant with the law. Otherwise, you can renew your tag certificate up to 30 days before the expiration date of your current tags.
The new system is intended to alleviate some of the problems with the current system and make it easier for patients and caregivers. Some of the features:
You can log in: rimmptags.com.
If you have problems with ordering or with the DBR website contact Support@rimmptags.com or call (800) 432-7992
If you are concerned that your plant tags are about to expire or that they have already expired, there’s nothing you can do about it until the DBR’s new system is ready. It is not ready but may be in the next few days. DBR will send out emails to patients and caregivers with instructions when it is ready. In the meanwhile, you cannot successfully renew on line.
DBR assures us that if they receive a call from law enforcement because a grower’s tags have expired prior to implementation of the new system, DBR will tell law enforcement that the patient or caregiver grower is in compliance.
DBR is going to simplify the process. Patient and caregiver growers should receive an email from DBR tomorrow explaining the new process. You will no longer have to go to DBR to pick up the tags. You will be able to download a certificate after you make payment on line. The certificate will state how many plants you are allowed. The certificate is all you will need.
South county patient meeting is cancelled due to weather. This meeting is on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at Charlestown Cross Mills Library at 7pm.
Tonight’s class at Growin’ Crazy is cancelled due to storm. We will resume next Wednesday at 7pm. Happy Spring!
There will be a hearing on Article 17 of the Governor’s budget tomorrow starting at about 4:30 at the State House before the House Finance Committee in room 35. Article 17 would reduce the plant count from 12/12 to 8/8, allow patients to access MMj Program for short-term acute conditions for 6 months, prohibit MA and CT physicians from signing patients into Program, require caregivers to justify having more than one patient, increase the number of compassion centers to 15, require patients who grow to show “necessity”if they have a caregiver, create a new class of manufacturers licenses which would allow the creation of MMj products for sale (edibles, topicals, etc) to compassion centers. To read Article 17 click here: http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText18/HouseText18/Article-017.pdf
GROW CLASS CANCELLED TONIGHT DUE TO WEATHER. WILL RESUME NEXT WEDNESDAY AT 7PM at GROWIN’ CRAZY
HEARING TODAY on GOVERNOR’S BUDGET in the Senate Lounge at the State House. The budget, Article 17 would reduce plant count from 12 to 8, require patients who grow to justify having a caregiver, eliminate the ability to gift to other patients, prohibit MA and CT doctors from signing patient applications,raise possession amount to 3 ounces,and more. Please know that the cultivators association, RI Cannabis Association is reported to be lobbying to eliminate caregivers and reduce plant counts. If having a caregiver is important to you, this would be a good time to let your state Senator know. For info on your state senator: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/
To read the Article 17: http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText18/HouseText18/Article-017.pdf
The towns of Glocester and Johnston have zoning ordinances that prohibit MMj patient and caregiver grows even though they are compliant with all the RI state laws and regulations.
Glocester has an ordinance that prohibits caregiver grows, co-ops and any potential compassion center. Patients may still to grow 12 mature plants and 12 seedlings but are required to obtain zoning certificates from the town and are subject to inspections. Among other requirements, the grow space must have two exits and be more that 10 feet from heating source. Read the full text – you may have to cut and paste the following into your browser: http://ecode360.com/documents/GL2062/source/LF952390.pdf
The Johnston ordinance lets patients and caregivers grow but only in their own residences, which are now defined as “mmj facilities” subject to: fire department inspections, building department inspections (where appropriate) and obtaining zoning certificates and special permits from the town. The ordinance allows town officials and the Johnston police to enter the homes of patients and caregivers who are growing with no notice and no warrant. Grows are not allowed unless they: have security alarm system, two means of egress, are NOT in a basement, and are not within ten (10) feet of a heating source.
Patient and caregiver grows cannot be within 1500 feet from churches, schools, park, playground, youth center, day care or location where youth congregate. Even if the grow is more than 1500 feet away, the town can still deny a special permit if it determines there would be an “adverse effect”. Grows must also be 1000 feet from town lines.
The ordinance also requires “proper” ventilation to mitigate the risk of mold, carbon filter to reduce odors, smoke alarms/detectors installed in accordance with State Fire Code and/or to the satisfaction of the Fire Department. Must be “sufficiently buffered” so grow will not “adversely affect” surrounding residential uses. Exterior of building must be consistent with neighborhood “to prevent blight and a decline in property values”. Must be 2,000 feet from any future compassion or cultivation center.
No smell. No noise. Grow must be “imperceptible” from the outside. Cannot try to “enhance THC”. Cannot extract any “chemicals or oils from the usable or unusable marijuana”.
Both the Glocester and Johnston ordinances conflict with the RI MMj Act. We do not believe they are legal. We won our lawsuit against Smithfield and were hoping these towns would rescind their ordinances in response. They have not. If you are a patient or caregiver in Glocester or Johnston and you would like a confidential conversation about your options and the possibility of a lawsuit, please contact the ACLU 401.831.7171 or JoAnne at RIPAC: joanne@RIpatients.org. For more info, you can also attend the patient meeting this Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 7pm in Johnston at 1192 Plainfield Street (APWU Hall). You must have patient or caregiver MMj card to attend.
Ripac 