Newport trip planning guide · Reviewed October 2026
There is no dispensary inside Newport, RI yet. The closest licensed shop is Newport Cannabis Co. at 1637 W. Main Road in Portsmouth, on the same island a short drive north of downtown, and it offers same-day delivery. Rhode Island allows adults 21 and older to buy and use cannabis, but the rules on where you can use it matter more for visitors than where you can buy it. This guide covers both.
Dispensary near Newport, RI at a glance
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Closest dispensary | Newport Cannabis Co., 1637 W. Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871 |
| Phone | (401) 293-5987 |
| Hours | Sun–Tue 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; Wed–Thu 8 a.m.–9 p.m.; Fri 7 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sat 8 a.m.–10 p.m. (posted on its website, October 2026) |
| Sales | Recreational (adult-use) and medical menus |
| Delivery | Same-day delivery ordered online |
| Age and ID | 21+ with a valid government-issued photo ID |
| Purchase limit | Up to one ounce at a time |
| Rolling papers | Taxed like cigarettes in RI, so expect to pay several dollars a pack |
| Taxes | About 20% total: 7% sales, 10% state cannabis excise, 3% local |
Newport Cannabis Co. in Portsmouth
Newport Cannabis Co. took over the former Greenleaf location on West Main Road in Portsmouth and opened under its new name in August 2025. It is owned by Octavius Prince, a Newport native who also founded Hangar 420, one of Rhode Island’s largest cannabis cultivators, so expect the house brands to be front and center. The store sells from both recreational and medical menus, and you can browse and order on its website.
From downtown Newport, take JT Connell Highway or Route 114 (West Main Road) north into Portsmouth. If you are staying in Middletown, it is closer still; compare places to stay in our guide to budget-friendly hotels near Newport, many of which are on the Middletown side.
Is a dispensary coming to Newport?
Yes. In September 2026, Newport Cannabis Co. announced it will move its store to 29 JT Connell Highway in Newport after approval from the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission and the City of Newport. The company expects to open there as early as spring 2027 and will keep the Portsmouth store running until then. We will update this guide when the Newport store opens.
Cannabis delivery in Newport
Newport Cannabis Co. offers same-day delivery that you order through its website or app, and it has advertised free delivery throughout Portsmouth. In past summers it has delivered to hotels, vacation rentals and marinas around Newport. Check its delivery page for current areas, minimums and hours, and make sure your hotel or rental allows cannabis before you order to the property.
Rhode Island cannabis laws for visitors
Rhode Island legalized adult-use cannabis in 2022, and licensed stores began selling to adults on December 1, 2022. The basics for visitors:
- Age: You must be 21 or older, with valid photo ID.
- How much you can carry: up to one ounce of flower (or the equivalent in concentrate) on you. Up to 10 ounces is allowed at a residence. Carrying between one and two ounces is a civil violation.
- Where to buy: only from a state-licensed dispensary. Licensed products are tested for strength and contaminants. See the Rhode Island Department of Health guide for adults.
- Driving: driving or boating while impaired is illegal. Use a sober driver, a taxi or rideshare.
- Leaving the state: do not take cannabis out of Rhode Island. Crossing state lines with it is illegal under federal law.
Why rolling papers are so expensive in Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s tax law counts each sheet of rolling paper as a cigarette. The state cigarette tax is 22.5 cents per cigarette, so a 20-sheet pack of papers carries $4.50 in state tax before sales tax is added (see the RI Division of Taxation cigarette tax page). That is why papers here can cost far more than you would pay in another state, and why many shops don’t carry them at all.
The simplest way around it is to buy pre-rolls at the dispensary, or choose vapes, edibles or other products that don’t need papers.
Where you can (and can’t) use it in Newport
Buying legally does not give you a legal place to use it. Rhode Island has not licensed consumption lounges, and cities and towns can ban use in public places. Smoking is generally limited to places where tobacco smoking is allowed, and property owners can ban it outright. In practice:
- Hotels and rentals: most Newport hotels are smoke-free and many vacation rentals ban cannabis. Ask before you book, and expect cleaning fees if you break the rules.
- Beaches, parks and the Cliff Walk: keep it out of public spaces. Use is easily seen on busy spots like Newport’s beaches and the Cliff Walk.
- Federal property: cannabis remains illegal under federal law, so never bring it onto Naval Station Newport or other federal land.
- On the water: the same impairment rules apply to boats, including harbor cruises and charters.
Rhode Island’s health department also publishes tips for lower-risk use, including starting low with edibles, which take longer to kick in.
Where to stay near the dispensary
If you plan to pick up in Portsmouth, staying in Middletown or the north end of Newport keeps the drive short. Compare options in our guides to the best hotels in Newport, RI, budget-friendly hotels and downtown Newport hotels. Whatever you book, read the smoking policy first.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a dispensary in Newport, RI?
Not inside the city yet. The closest licensed dispensary is Newport Cannabis Co. at 1637 W. Main Road in Portsmouth, a short drive north of Newport. The company has state and city approval to move to 29 JT Connell Highway in Newport, with opening expected as early as spring 2027.
Is weed legal in Rhode Island?
Yes. Adults 21 and older can legally possess up to one ounce of cannabis on their person and up to 10 ounces at home. Buy only from a state-licensed dispensary.
Can tourists buy cannabis in Rhode Island?
Yes. Visitors 21 and older can buy from a licensed dispensary with a valid government-issued photo ID. Purchases are limited to one ounce at a time.
Can I use cannabis in my Newport hotel?
Only if your hotel or rental allows it, and most do not allow smoking or vaping. Rhode Island has no licensed consumption lounges, so plan where you will use it before you buy.
Why are rolling papers so expensive in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island taxes each sheet of rolling paper as if it were a cigarette, at 22.5 cents per sheet. That adds $4.50 in state tax to a 20-sheet pack before sales tax. Pre-rolls from a dispensary avoid the problem.
How much is the tax on cannabis in Rhode Island?
Adult-use purchases carry the 7% state sales tax, a 10% state cannabis excise tax and a 3% local cannabis tax, about 20% in total.
Can I take cannabis home from Rhode Island?
No. Carrying cannabis across state lines is illegal under federal law, even into another state where it is legal. Finish or leave it before you go home.
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