2021 -- H 5451

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE EDWARD O. HAWKINS AND THOMAS C.

SLATER MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Vella-Wilkinson, Slater, Felix, and Alzate

     Date Introduced: February 10, 2021

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 21-28.6-17 of the General Laws in Chapter 21-28.6 entitled "The

Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act" is hereby amended to read as

follows:

     21-28.6-17. Revenue.

     (a) Effective July 1, 2016, all fees collected by the departments of health and business

regulation from applicants, registered patients, primary caregivers, authorized purchasers, licensed

medical marijuana cultivators, cooperative cultivations, compassion centers, other licensees

licensed pursuant to this chapter, and compassion-center and other registry identification

cardholders shall be placed in restricted-receipt accounts to support the state's medical marijuana

program, including but not limited to, payment of expenses incurred by the departments of health

and business regulation for the administration of the program. The restricted-receipt account will

be known as the "medical marijuana licensing account" and will be housed within the budgets of

the departments of business regulation and health.

     (b) All revenues remaining in the restricted-receipt accounts after payments specified in

subsection (a) of this section shall first be paid to cover any existing deficit in the department of

health's restricted-receipt account or the department of business regulation's restricted-receipt

account. These transfers shall be made annually on the last business day of the fiscal year.

     (c) All revenues remaining in the restricted-receipt accounts after payments specified in

subsections (a) and (b) shall be paid into the state's general fund apportioned and paid as follows:

seventy-five percent (75%) shall be paid into the distressed communities relief fund established

pursuant to § 45-13-12, and twenty-five percent (25%) shall be paid to charitable organizations

selected annually by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate.

These payments shall be made annually on the last business day of the fiscal year.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- THE EDWARD O. HAWKINS AND THOMAS C.

SLATER MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT

***

     This act would apportion remaining revenue in the restricted receipt accounts, after

department of health expenses, from the Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical

Marijuana Act to the distressed communities relief fund and charitable organizations.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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