Recreational cannabis on sale in Rhode Island
RISE Warwick, formally known as Summit Medical Compassion Center, is one of only five dispensaries in Rhode Island, and opened its doors to recreational cannabis sales at 6am. The state is expecting to generate $41 million in revenue from cannabis sales over the first seven months of legalized sales, though border-town Attleboro, MA’s long head start and resulting customer loyalty may make those figures harder to attain.
December 1, 2022, 6:46 am
By Steve Ahlquist
Exeter resident Christopher Hampton was first in line outside the RISE Dispensary in Warwick on Thursday morning. “I come from the west coast and it’s been legal out there for some time,” said Hampton. “I’ve been smoking since 2012-ish. It’s legal here. I get up normally pretty early anyway, so I’m the first person here.”
RISE Warwick, formally known as Summit Medical Compassion Center, is one of only five dispensaries in Rhode Island, and opened its doors to recreational cannabis sales at 6am. The state is expecting to generate $41 million in revenue in legal cannabis sales over the first seven months of legalized sales.
When a customer enters the dispensary, it feels more like a bank than a retail outlet. Product is ordered on screens in the lobby and picked up and paid for at the counter. At 6am there was a ribbon cutting, with a steel drum band playing outside and free Allie’s Donuts available to customers.
