Interview..Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission Chairwoman Kim Ahern on licensing, social equity, & more

Interview Transcript

Ian Donnis: Starting off with a basic question, why does your commission use the term “cannabis” rather than “marijuana”?

Kim Ahern: It’s a good question. It’s the statutory term that was included in the Rhode Island Cannabis Act. The term “marijuana” has a long and loaded history, dating back well before my time here and before the Cannabis Act was passed. Several entities, including the Department of Health, have advised us that words matter. Words with long and potentially negative connotations should be reframed, and it is the appropriate medical term. So, we use “cannabis”.

Donnis: In January, the Cannabis Control Commission released its long-awaited rules and regulations. The big question is, when will the commission open the window for applications for 24 new cannabis retailers to be licensed? What would you say the answer is?

Ahern: That is the big question. Let me take a little bit of a step back. My first time here, I’m thrilled to talk about my role as chair, the inaugural chair of the Cannabis Control Commission. From the beginning, I’ve said, and I’ve repeated at meetings, general assembly hearings, and open forums that my goal is to regulate the adult-use cannabis market in a safe, transparent, and equitable way. Every policy decision we’ve made aims to uphold these pillars.

We’ve been working round the clock, especially in the last calendar year of 2024, to fulfill our statutory mandates. Part of this was developing our first set of adult-use cannabis regulations. I’m very proud of the work our staff and commission did on that. I also want to thank my fellow commissioners, who are key members of our three-person commission. We released our first set of adult-use regulations in January of this year and received a tremendous amount of public feedback — 381 unique comments, the most for any individual topic in recent years.

Donnis: I’m sorry to interrupt. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover, so I’ve got to cut to the chase a bit. What can you tell us about when that window for applications will open?

Ahern: As soon as the commission can finalize our regulations, which is my top priority, we intend to open up the application window for all licensees in the state shortly thereafter.

Donnis: Do you expect that to be this year?

Ahern: I do.

Donnis: It was almost three years ago when Governor McKee signed the cannabis legalization bill into law. Why has it taken so long to get to this point?

Ahern: We already had a well-regulated medical market, unlike some other adult-use states. The Rhode Island Cannabis Act allowed medical compassion centers to sell adult-use cannabis almost immediately. Governor McKee signed the bill in the summer of 2022, but it wasn’t until another calendar year that we were formed as a commission. We didn’t hire key staff or meet in full until 2024.

Experts suggest that establishing a first-ever adult-use market takes between 18 and 24 months. In Rhode Island, I’m proud of the work we’ve done. We’re working tirelessly to finalize regulations and open applications for future licensees.