Bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Rhode Island heads to full floor

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Rhode Island will head to the House and Senate floors on Tuesday.

The bill would decriminalize sale and possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for anyone 21 or older. It would also toss past convictions for marijuana related crimes.

The Senate Judiciary and House Finance committee advanced the bill last week. Now each chamber will vote on the bill before its full membership.

Legalized recreational marijuana sales would start Dec. 1 under the proposal — taxed and regulated by the state.

Currently, Rhode Island and New Hampshire are the only New England states that has not legalized recreational marijuana.