medical

drugged driving

tax stamps

		Incarceration	Fine
Possession
Less than 1 kg	misdemeanor	1 year	$200 - $500
1 kg to 5 kg	felony	10 years	$10,000 - $500,000
More than 5 kg	felony	20 years	$25,000 - $100,000
Within 300 yards of a school, public park or playground	felony	double penalty	double penalty
Possession while driving causes driver's license suspension for 6 months (first offense), and 1 year (subsequent offense).
Sale or Cultivation
Less than 1 kg	felony	30 years	$3,000 - $100,000
1 kg to 5 kg	felony	10 years	$10,000 - $500,000
More than 5 kg	felony	20 years	$25,000 - $100,000
Delivery to a minor 3 years younger	felony	2 - 5 years	$10,000
Within 300 yards of a school, public park or playground	felony	double penalty	double penalty
Miscellaneous (paraphernalia, license suspensions, drug tax stamps, etc...)
For sentences of probation with no imprisonment, the offender is required to undergo a drug abuse evaluation, attend a drug education course and perform 100 hours of community service.

Details

Possession of less than one kilogram of marijuana is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of $200 - $500. Driving while in possession of marijuana is penalized by suspension of the offender's driver's license for six months for the first offense and for one year for subsequent offenses. Manufacture or delivery of less than one kilogram of marijuana is punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a fine of $3,000 - $100,000. Delivery to a minor at least three years younger than the offender adds an additional 2 - 5 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Sale or possession within 300 yards of a school, public park or playground doubles the possible penalties. A new law eliminating mandatory minimum drug sentences in Rhode Island has taken effect without the governor's signature. The new law, which took effect December 2009, leaves the sentence to the judge's discretion. For sentences of probation with no imprisonment, the offender is required to undergo a drug abuse evaluation, attend a drug education course and perform 100 hours of community service.

Medical marijuana: This state has medical marijuana laws enacted. Modern research suggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include pain relief, nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant and emerging research suggests that marijuana's medicinal properties may protect the body against some types of malignant tumors, and are neuroprotective. For more information see NORML's Medical Marijuana section.

Drugged driving: This state has a zero tolerance per se drugged driving law enacted. In their strictest form, these laws forbid drivers from operating a motor vehicle if they have any detectable level of an illicit drug or drug metabolite (i.e., compounds produced from chemical changes of a drug in the body, but not necessarily psychoactive themselves) present in their bodily fluids. For more information, see NORML's Drugged Driving (DUID) report.

Marijuana tax stamps: This state has a marijuana tax stamp law enacted. This law mandates that those who possess marijuana are legally required to purchase and affix state-issued stamps onto his or her contraband. Failure to do so may result in a fine and/or criminal sanction. For more information, see NORML's report Marijuana Tax Stamp Laws And Penalties .