2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 21 - Food and Drugs › Chapter 21-28.11 - The Rhode Island Cannabis Act › Section 21-28.11-24. - Lawful operation of cannabis establishments.

§ 21-28.11-24. Lawful operation of cannabis establishments.
(a)
Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, except as otherwise provided in this chapter or in rules and regulations adopted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the following persons involved in the distribution of cannabis as authorized by this chapter shall not be arrested, prosecuted, penalized, sanctioned or disqualified and shall not be subject to seizure or forfeiture of assets for activities specified for:
(1)
A cannabis retailer or hybrid cannabis retailer or an owner, operator, employee or other agent acting on behalf thereof possessing cannabis or cannabis products, purchasing, selling or otherwise transferring or delivering cannabis or cannabis products to or from a cannabis establishment; or selling or otherwise transferring or delivering cannabis or cannabis products to a consumer;
(2)
A cannabis cultivator or an owner, operator, employee or other agent acting on behalf of a cannabis cultivator cultivating, propagating, breeding, harvesting, processing, packaging, storing or possessing cannabis or cannabis products, or selling or otherwise transferring, purchasing or delivering cannabis and cannabis products to or from a cannabis establishment;
(3)
A cannabis product manufacturer or an owner, operator, employee or other agent acting on behalf of a cannabis product manufacturer packaging, processing, manufacturing, storing or possessing cannabis or cannabis products, or delivering, selling or otherwise transferring and purchasing cannabis or cannabis products to or from a cannabis establishment; or
(4)
A cannabis testing laboratory or an owner, operator, employee or other agent acting on behalf of a cannabis testing laboratory possessing, processing, storing, transferring or testing cannabis or cannabis products.
(b)
Any licensee, or agent or employee thereof, under this chapter who reasonably relies on a valid state issued identification card, or on a valid motor vehicle license, or on a valid passport issued by the United States government, or by the government of a foreign country recognized by the United States government, or a valid United States issued military identification card, for proof of a person’s identity and age shall not suffer any modification, suspension, revocation or cancellation of such license, nor shall the licensee, agent or employee suffer any criminal liability, for delivering or selling cannabis or cannabis products to a person under twenty-one (21) years of age. Any licensee, or agent or employee thereof, under this chapter, who reasonably relies on the forms of identification listed in this subsection, for proof of a person’s identity and age, shall be presumed to have exercised due care in making such delivery or sale of cannabis or cannabis products to a person under twenty-one (21) years of age. Such presumption shall be rebuttable.
History of Section.
P.L. 2022, ch. 31, § 1, effective May 25, 2022; P.L. 2022, ch. 32, § 1, effective May 25, 2022.