| R 388 |
| 2025 -- H 6270 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 07/05/2025 |
| J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N |
| REQUESTING THAT THE CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION PROVIDE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WITH RECOMMENDATIONS ON LEGISLATION TO REGULATE AND LICENSE CANNABINOIDS AND HEMP-DERIVED BEVERAGES |
Introduced By: Representatives Slater, Diaz, Potter, Edwards, Bennett, and McGaw |
| Date Introduced: April 25, 2025 |
| WHEREAS, The legalization of adult-use cannabis in the State of Rhode Island has |
| created a regulated framework for the cultivation, processing, sale, and consumption of cannabis |
| products; and |
| WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Cannabis Act established the Rhode Island Cannabis |
| Control Commission to oversee and implement rules and regulations for the safe and responsible |
| use of cannabis and cannabis-derived products; and |
| WHEREAS, Hemp THC-infused beverages are a new emerging category of cannabis |
| products in many legal jurisdictions, offering consumers a smokeless alternative to traditional |
| cannabis consumption; and |
| WHEREAS, As intoxicating products, hemp THC-infused beverages warrant careful |
| study and monitoring to better understand their short- and long-term effects on individual health |
| and behavior, particularly with respect to public health outcomes and the potential risks they pose |
| to juveniles if not properly regulated and restricted; and |
| WHEREAS, Hemp THC-infused beverages can impair judgment, coordination, and |
| perception, and as such, strict rules and regulations governing their age-appropriate use are |
| essential to prevent underage consumption and protect public health and safety; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island's cannabis and hemp entrepreneurs require clear, consistent |
| guidance to participate in the emerging hemp THC-infused beverage market to ensure compliance |
| with regulations designed to enable sales of hemp THC-infused beverages while protecting public |
| health and safety; and |
| WHEREAS, Hemp THC-infused beverages should only be sold by properly regulated |
| venues equipped to verify age and ensure responsible dispensing, in order to prevent misuse, |
| diversion, and access by underage individuals; and |
| WHEREAS, Establishing equitable and transparent rules around production, potency, |
| distribution, and wholesale and retail sales will empower local small businesses, foster |
| innovation, and ensure broad participation in the regulated cannabis economy; and |
| WHEREAS, A unified regulatory framework for both cannabis and hemp products - |
| including hemp THC-infused beverages - would reduce confusion, promote compliance, and |
| better protect public health and safety; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That the General Assembly hereby requests that prior to March 1, 2026, the |
| Cannabis Control Commission, pursuant to its authority under section 21-28.11-4, consult with |
| medical experts and appropriate state agencies and departments including the Department of |
| Health, the Department of Revenue, and the Department of Business Regulation in devising |
| recommendations regarding dosage limits, packaging standards, labeling requirements, licensing |
| conditions, and appropriate age requirements and other safeguards against underage access as |
| well as study optimal procedures in other states that have undertaken regulation of ingestible |
| hemp products; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Commissioners Kim Ahern, Layi Oduyingbo, |
| and Robert Jacquard of the Cannabis Control Commission, Administrator Michelle Reddish of |
| the Cannabis Control Commission, and the Director of the Department of Business Regulation. |
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| LC002778/SUB A |
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