According to the Rhode Island Department of Health:
The RI Medical Marijuana Act…”permits Rhode Island residents with debilitating medical conditions to use marijuana if a physician certifies in writing that the marijuana may alleviate their symptoms and that the potential benefits of using medical marijuana would likely outweigh the health risks to the client”… This means that clients and caregivers who are in the Rhode Island Medical Marijuana program receive a consultation and then are approved to enter the program may possess marijuana without violating state law.
Registered clients may designate up to two caregivers. Individual caregivers may be responsible for up to five clients. Clients may designate a compassion center as a caregiver.
Types of documentation accepted:
- Cancer or the treatment of this condition
- Glaucoma or the treatment of this condition
- Positive status for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or the treatment of this condition
- Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or the treatment of this condition
- Hepatitis C or the treatment of this condition
- PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one or more of the following:
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome
- Severe, debilitating, chronic pain, including but not limited to that from injuries or car accidents
- Severe nausea of any cause
- Seizures, including but not limited to those characteristic of epilepsy
- Severe and persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to those characteristic of multiple sclerosis or Crohn’s disease
- Agitation related to Alzheimer’s Disease