Rhode Island Opens Applications for 24 Adult-Use Cannabis Retail Licenses

15 September 2025

Rhode Island has opened a new round of adult-use cannabis retail licensing. The Cannabis Control Commission is accepting online applications for 24 licenses through December 29, 2025. Of the total, six licenses are reserved for social equity applicants and six are reserved for worker-owned cooperatives. Regulators will distribute licenses across six geographic zones with a maximum of four per zone and will use a lottery to determine awardees.

The application fee is $7,500 and the annual license fee is $30,000. Social equity applicants receive a first-year waiver of the application fee. Social equity status is defined in part by residency in designated census tracts that were disproportionately impacted by prior cannabis enforcement, including areas in Providence, Central Falls, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, and Newport.

NOTE: All questions about the application or application process must be submitted by email only to CCC.AURAPP@ccc.ri.gov with the subject line “Adult-Use Cannabis Retailer Question”.