Rhode Island Cannabis Advocacy Organizations

Last verified: March 2026

Rhode Island's cannabis legalization was not a ballot initiative — it was a legislative achievement built on years of advocacy, coalition-building, and pressure from organizations that span labor, civil rights, and criminal justice reform. These groups continue to shape the state's cannabis policy in the post-legalization era.

RI Cannabis Justice Coalition

The Rhode Island Cannabis Justice Coalition is the state's broadest cannabis advocacy alliance, bringing together community organizations and labor unions around a shared platform of equitable legalization. The coalition was instrumental in pushing the RI Cannabis Act through the General Assembly and continues to advocate for stronger social equity provisions, expanded expungement, and reinvestment in impacted communities.

Regulate RI / Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)

Regulate RI is the state chapter of the Marijuana Policy Project, the national organization that has been behind legalization efforts in more than a dozen states. MPP provided the policy framework, economic modeling (including the $58M revenue projection), and legislative strategy that shaped the Rhode Island Cannabis Act. Post-legalization, MPP continues to advocate for market reforms and federal policy changes.

ACLU of Rhode Island

The ACLU of Rhode Island has been a persistent voice on cannabis justice, contributing two critical pieces of work:

• Racial arrest data — The ACLU documented that Black Rhode Island residents are 3.5 times more likely to be arrested for cannabis offenses, a disparity that has worsened since legalization
• Firearms brief — The ACLU filed an amicus brief challenging the federal prohibition on firearm ownership for cannabis users, arguing it violates Second Amendment rights in states where cannabis is legal

UFCW Local 328

UFCW Local 328 (United Food and Commercial Workers) represents unionized cannabis workers in Rhode Island. The union has organized workers at several compassion centers and advocates for fair wages, benefits, and workplace safety standards in the cannabis industry. Rhode Island is one of a handful of states where cannabis workers have meaningful union representation.

PVD Flowers Cooperative

PVD Flowers Cooperative is a worker-owned dispensary startup based in Providence. It represents the practical realization of Rhode Island's unique worker-cooperative license reservation — one of 6 cooperative licenses set aside in the 24-license lottery. PVD Flowers aims to demonstrate that cannabis retail can operate under a democratic, worker-ownership model rather than the investor-driven structure that dominates the industry.

Formerly Incarcerated Union of Rhode Island

The Formerly Incarcerated Union of Rhode Island advocates for people directly impacted by cannabis prohibition. The organization pushes for employment protections for formerly incarcerated individuals, expanded expungement eligibility (including selling and manufacturing charges currently excluded), and direct community reinvestment from cannabis tax revenue.

Cannabis Advisory Board

The state's Cannabis Advisory Board is a 19-member body with 5 subcommittees that advises the CCC on policy:

The board includes representatives from public health, law enforcement, industry, social equity communities, and medical providers. While advisory rather than regulatory, the board shapes CCC rulemaking and provides a structured channel for stakeholder input.

The Advocacy Landscape Post-Legalization

Legalization did not end the need for cannabis advocacy in Rhode Island — it shifted the focus. Before 2022, the question was whether to legalize. Now the questions are harder: How should tax revenue be distributed? Who gets licenses? How do you repair the damage of prohibition while building a functional market? These organizations ensure those questions are answered with community input, not just industry lobbying.