Rhode Island and Massachusetts are legalizing two long-time illegal activities this week.
On Tuesday, Massachusetts legalizes marijuana and opens its first retail outlets — a move that has some calling for Rhode Island to take similar action.
In Rhode Island, sports betting is supposed to begin after nearly two months of delays, costing the state millions in revenue.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
For decades, both activities were illegal and both states’ prison systems have slews of prisoners incarcerated for selling drugs or running illegal sports gambling books.
“Marijuana prohibition is officially coming to an end in the Bay State, and it will not be missed,” said Matthew Schweich of the Marijuana Policy Project, who oversaw the successful Question 4 campaign in 2016. “Voters in Massachusetts wanted a more sensible policy, new tax revenue, and safer communities, and that is what they are going to get,” he said on Monday.
“Finally, adults will be able to purchase marijuana safely and legally in regulated, taxpaying businesses instead of resorting to the underground market,” Schweich said. “Adults will simply stop at a licensed store, show their ID, pay, and be on their way. It won’t be long before the novelty wears off and it feels just like buying alcohol from a liquor store.”
Massachusetts officials estimate that adult marijuana sales could generate more than $200 million for the Commonwealth when the program is fully implemented and up to $3 million for local governments in the first two years.
Sports Betting Delayed But Coming
Rhode Island’s sports betting program is expected to begin this week — it has been delayed since its original October 1 launch date, a miscue that is estimated to cost Rhode Island as much a $10 million of the $23 million in anticipated revenue.
The October to November timeframe is the richest time in sports betting due to the begging of NBA, NHL and NCAA basketball coupled with the World Series and the height of the NFL season.
The sports betting was to begin this week at Twin River’s casino in Lincoln and later in December in Tiverton, but those deadlines may be in question and Twin River spokesperson Patti Doyle did not respond to inquiries about the newest delays.
Rhode Island will get 51 percent of the revenue. The vendor will get 32 percent and the casino will get 17 percent.
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