2023 -- H 5921
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LC002415
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE S ACT
Introduced By: Representative Scott Slater
Date Introduced: March 01, 2023
Referred To: House Judiciary
(Judiciary)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 21-28-4.01 of the General Laws in Chapter 21-28 entitled "Uniform 1
Controlled Substances Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
21-28-4.01. Prohibited acts A — Penalties. [As amended by P.L. 2021, ch. 286, § 2 and 3
P.L. 2021, ch. 287, § 2.] 4
(a)(1) Except as authorized by this chapter and chapters 28.6 and 28.11 of title 21, it shall 5
be unlawful for any person to manufacture, deliver, or possess with intent to manufacture or deliver 6
a controlled substance. 7
(2) Any person who is not a drug-addicted person, as defined in § 21-28-1.02, who violates 8
this subsection with respect to a controlled substance classified in schedule I or II, except the 9
substance classified as marijuana, is guilty of a crime and, upon conviction, may be imprisoned to 10
a term up to life or fined not more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) nor less than ten 11
thousand dollars ($10,000), or both. 12
(3) Where the deliverance as prohibited in this subsection shall be the proximate cause of 13
death to the person to whom the controlled substance is delivered, it shall not be a defense that the 14
person delivering the substance was, at the time of delivery, a drug-addicted person as defined in § 15
21-28-1.02. 16
(4) Any person, except as provided for in subsection (a)(2), who violates this subsection 17
with respect to: 18
(i) A controlled substance, classified in schedule I or II, is guilty of a crime and, upon 19
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conviction, may be imprisoned for not more than thirty (30) years, or fined not more than one 1
hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) nor less than three thousand dollars ($3,000), or both; 2
(ii) A controlled substance, classified in schedule III or IV, is guilty of a crime and, upon 3
conviction, may be imprisoned for not more than twenty (20) years, or fined not more than forty 4
thousand dollars ($40,000), or both; provided, with respect to a controlled substance classified in 5
schedule III(d), upon conviction may be imprisoned for not more than five (5) years, or fined not 6
more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), or both. 7
(iii) A controlled substance, classified in schedule V, is guilty of a crime and, upon 8
conviction, may be imprisoned for not more than one year, or fined not more than ten thousand 9
dollars ($10,000), or both. 10
(b)(1) Except as authorized by this chapter, it is unlawful for any person to create, deliver, 11
or possess with intent to deliver, a counterfeit substance. 12
(2) Any person who violates this subsection with respect to: 13
(i) A counterfeit substance, classified in schedule I or II, is guilty of a crime and, upon 14
conviction, may be imprisoned for not more than thirty (30) years, or fined not more than one 15
hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), or both; 16
(ii) A counterfeit substance, classified in schedule III or IV, is guilty of a crime and, upon 17
conviction, may be imprisoned for not more than twenty (20) years, or fined not more than forty 18
thousand dollars ($40,000), or both; provided, with respect to a controlled substance classified in 19
schedule III(d), upon conviction may be imprisoned for not more than five (5) years, or fined not 20
more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), or both. 21
(iii) A counterfeit substance, classified in schedule V, is guilty of a crime and, upon 22
conviction, may be imprisoned for not more than one year, or fined not more than ten thousand 23
dollars ($10,000), or both. 24
(c)(1) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally to possess a controlled 25
substance, unless the substance was obtained directly from, or pursuant to, a valid prescription or 26
order of a practitioner while acting in the course of his or her professional practice, or except as 27
otherwise authorized by this chapter or chapters 28.6 and 28.11 of title 21. 28
(2) Any person who violates this subsection with respect to: 29
(i) Except as otherwise provided in §§ 21-28-4.01.1 and 21-28-4.01.2, ten grams (10 g.) or 30
less of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of a controlled substance classified 31
in schedules I, II, III, IV, and V, except buprenorphine and the substance classified as marijuana, 32
is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may be imprisoned for not more than two (2) 33
years, or fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or both. 34
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(ii) Except as otherwise provided in §§ 21-28-4.01.1 and 21-28-4.01.2, more than ten grams 1
(10 g.), but less than one ounce (1 oz.) of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of 2
a controlled substance classified in schedules I, II and III, IV, and V, except buprenorphine and the 3
substance classified as marijuana, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, may be imprisoned 4
for not more than three (3) years, or fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both. 5
(iii) Except as otherwise provided in §§ 21-28-4.01.1 and 21-28-4.01.2, more than two 6
ounces (2 oz.) or the equivalent amount in the form of cannabis concentrate of a controlled 7
substance classified in schedule I as marijuana is guilty of a misdemeanor unless possessed inside 8
one’s own primary residence, except for those persons subject to (a)(1), and, upon conviction, may 9
be imprisoned for not more than one year, or fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or 10
both. Exclusive of live marijuana plants, more than ten ounces (10 oz.) of a controlled substance 11
classified in schedule I as marijuana or the equivalent amount in the form of cannabis concentrate, 12
when possessed within one’s personal residence is guilty of a misdemeanor, except for those 13
persons subject to (a)(1), and, upon conviction, may be imprisoned for not more than one year, or 14
fined not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both. 15
Possession of live marijuana plants in excess of the number authorized pursuant to § 21-16
28.11-22 but less than twenty-five (25) marijuana plants is guilty of a misdemeanor, except for 17
those persons subject to (a)(1) and, upon conviction, may be imprisoned for not more than one year, 18
or fined not less than two hundred dollars ($200) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500), or 19
both. 20
Possession of twenty-five (25) or more live marijuana plants is guilty of a felony, except 21
for those persons subject to (a)(1), and upon conviction, may be imprisoned for not more than three 22
(3) years or fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both. 23
(iv) Notwithstanding any public, special, or general law to the contrary, and except as 24
otherwise provided in §§ 21-28-4.01.1 and 21-28-4.01.2, the possession of more than one ounce (1 25
oz.) but not more than two ounces (2 oz.) of marijuana or the equivalent amount in the form of 26
cannabis concentrate by a person who is at least twenty-one (21) years old, and who is not exempted 27
from penalties pursuant to chapter 28.6 of this title, shall constitute a civil offense, rendering the 28
offender liable to a civil penalty in the amount of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) and forfeiture of 29
the marijuana, but not to any other form of criminal or civil punishment or disqualification. 30
Notwithstanding any public, special, or general law to the contrary, this civil penalty of one hundred 31
fifty dollars ($150) and forfeiture of the marijuana shall apply if the offense is the first (1st) or 32
second (2nd) violation within the previous eighteen (18) months. 33
(v) Notwithstanding any public, special, or general law to the contrary, possession of two 34
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ounces (2 oz.) or less of marijuana or the equivalent amount in the form of cannabis concentrate by 1
a person between seventeen (17) and twenty (20) years old, and who is not exempted from penalties 2
pursuant to chapter 28.6 of this title, shall constitute a civil offense, rendering the offender liable to 3
a civil penalty in the amount of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) and forfeiture of the marijuana; 4
provided the minor offender completes an approved, drug-awareness program and community 5
service as determined by the court. If the person between seventeen (17) years of age or older and 6
under the age of eighteen (18) years and twenty (20) years of age fails to complete an approved, 7
drug-awareness program and community service within one year of the disposition, the penalty 8
shall be a three hundred dollar ($300) civil fine and forfeiture of the marijuana, except that if no 9
drug-awareness program or community service is available, the penalty shall be a fine of one 10
hundred fifty dollars ($150) and forfeiture of the marijuana. The parents or legal guardian of any 11
offender between seventeen (17) years of age or older and under the age of eighteen (18) and twenty 12
(20) years of age shall be notified of the offense and the availability of a drug-awareness and 13
community-service program. The drug-awareness program must be approved by the court, but 14
shall, at a minimum, provide four (4) hours of instruction or group discussion and ten (10) hours of 15
community service. Notwithstanding any other public, special, or general law to the contrary, this 16
civil penalty shall apply if the offense is the first or second violation within the previous eighteen 17
(18) months. 18
(vi) [Deleted by P.L. 2022, ch. 31, § 10 and P.L. 2022, ch. 32, § 10.] 19
(vii) Any unpaid civil fine issued under (c)(2)(iv) or (c)(2)(v) shall double to three hundred 20
dollars ($300) if not paid within thirty (30) days of the disposition. The civil fine shall double again 21
to six hundred dollars ($600) if it has not been paid within ninety (90) days. 22
(viii) No person may be arrested for a violation of (c)(2)(iv) or (c)(2)(v) of this subsection 23
except as provided in this subparagraph. Any person in possession of an identification card, license, 24
or other form of identification issued by the state or any state, city, or town, or any college or 25
university, who fails to produce the same upon request of a police officer who informs the person 26
that he or she has been found in possession of what appears to the officer to be more than one ounce 27
(1 oz.) two ounces (2 oz.) of marijuana, or the equivalent amount in the form of cannabis 28
concentrate or any person without any such forms of identification who fails or refuses to truthfully 29
provide his or her name, address, and date of birth to a police officer who has informed such person 30
that the officer intends to provide such individual with a citation for possession of more than one 31
ounce (1 oz.) but less than two ounces (2 oz.) of marijuana or the equivalent amount in the form of 32
cannabis concentrate, may be arrested. 33
(ix) No violation of (c)(2)(iv) or (c)(2)(v) of this subsection shall be considered a violation 34
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of parole or probation. 1
(x) Any records collected by any state agency, tribunal, or the family court that include 2
personally identifiable information about violations of (c)(2)(iv) or (c)(2)(v) shall not be open to 3
public inspection in accordance with § 8-8.2-21. 4
(3) Jurisdiction. 5
(i) Any and all adjudications of violations of (c)(2)(i) and (c)(2)(ii) shall be within the 6
original jurisdiction of the Rhode Island superior court. The department of attorney general shall 7
prosecute any and all violations of (c)(2)(i) and (c)(2)(ii). 8
(ii) Any and all violations of (c)(2)(iv) and (c)(2)(v) shall be the exclusive jurisdiction of 9
the Rhode Island traffic tribunal. All money associated with the civil fine issued under (c)(2)(iv) or 10
(c)(2)(v) shall be payable to the Rhode Island traffic tribunal. Fifty percent (50%) of all fines 11
collected by the Rhode Island traffic tribunal from civil penalties issued pursuant to (c)(2)(iv) or 12
(c)(2)(v) shall be expended on drug-awareness and treatment programs for youth. 13
(4) Additionally, every person convicted or who pleads nolo contendere under (c)(2)(i) or 14
(c)(2)(ii) or convicted or who pleads nolo contendere a second or subsequent time under (c)(2)(iii), 15
who is not sentenced to a term of imprisonment to serve for the offense, shall be required to: 16
(i) Perform up to one hundred (100) hours of community service; 17
(ii) Attend and complete a drug-counseling and education program, as prescribed, by the 18
director of the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals 19
(BHDDH) similar to that in § 21-28.11-27.2, and pay the sum of four hundred dollars ($400) to 20
help defray the costs of this program which shall be deposited as general revenues. Failure to attend 21
may result, after hearing by the court, in jail sentence up to one year; 22
(iii) The court shall not suspend any part or all of the imposition of the fee required by this 23
subsection, unless the court finds an inability to pay; 24
(iv) If the offense involves the use of any automobile to transport the substance or the 25
substance is found within an automobile, then a person convicted or who pleads nolo contendere 26
under (c)(2)(i), (c)(2)(ii) or (c)(2)(iii) shall be subject to a loss of license for a period of six (6) 27
months for a first offense and one year for each offense after. 28
(5) All fees assessed and collected pursuant to (c)(2)(i), (c)(2)(ii) and, (c)(2)(iii) shall be 29
deposited as general revenues and shall be collected from the person convicted or who pleads nolo 30
contendere before any other fines authorized by this chapter. 31
(d) It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, distribute, or possess with intent to 32
manufacture or distribute, an imitation controlled substance. Any person who violates this 33
subsection is guilty of a crime and, upon conviction, shall be subject to the same term of 34
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imprisonment and/or fine as provided by this chapter for the manufacture or distribution of the 1
controlled substance that the particular imitation controlled substance forming the basis of the 2
prosecution was designed to resemble and/or represented to be; but in no case shall the 3
imprisonment be for more than five (5) years nor the fine for more than twenty thousand dollars 4
($20,000). 5
(e) It shall be unlawful for a practitioner to prescribe, order, distribute, supply, or sell an 6
anabolic steroid or human growth hormone for: (1) Enhancing performance in an exercise, sport, 7
or game, or (2) Hormonal manipulation intended to increase muscle mass, strength, or weight 8
without a medical necessity. Any person who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor 9
and, upon conviction, may be imprisoned for not more than six (6) months or a fine of not more 10
than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both. 11
(f) It is unlawful for any person to knowingly or intentionally possess, manufacture, 12
distribute, or possess with intent to manufacture or distribute, any extract, compound, salt 13
derivative, or mixture of salvia divinorum or datura stramonium or its extracts unless the person is 14
exempt pursuant to the provisions of § 21-28-3.30. Notwithstanding any laws to the contrary, any 15
person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, may be 16
imprisoned for not more than one year, or fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or 17
both. The provisions of this section shall not apply to licensed physicians, pharmacists, and 18
accredited hospitals and teaching facilities engaged in the research or study of salvia divinorum or 19
datura stramonium and shall not apply to any person participating in clinical trials involving the 20
use of salvia divinorum or datura stramonium. 21
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 22
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- UNIFORM CONTROLLED S UBSTANCES ACT
***
This act would amend the statutory penalties for possession of marijuana offenses to 1
conform to the penalties promulgated in the Rhode Island cannabis act. 2
This act would take effect upon passage. 3
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LC002415
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