A key Rhode Island Senate committee approved a revised marijuana legalization bill on Wednesday, with a vote on the identical House companion version expected in a separate panel later this evening.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 9-1 to advance the bill to the floor, where it is expected to receive a vote by the full body on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the House Finance Committee is scheduled to consider a companion measure shortly, after which point it will also move to the floor of that chamber.
Sen. Joshua Miller (D) and Rep. Scott Slater (D) are sponsoring the proposal, a revised version of which was unveiled on Tuesday. The lawmakers worked for months with stakeholders and the office of Gov. Dan McKee (D), who released his own legalization measure as part of a budget proposal in January, to reach a deal on various provisions.
The basic components of the new substitute amendment are consistent with an earlier version of bill as introduced and considered during earlier committee hearings in March, but there were key changes made concerning issues such as expungements, regulatory appointments, licensing authority and the timeline for implementation.
Here’s what the revised marijuana legalization proposal would accomplish:
Adults 21 and older could purchase
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