The future of nearly two dozen pre-approved companies seeking medical cannabis dispensary licenses in five of Rhode Island’s six geographic zones will be decided on Friday, October 29. The license hopefuls submitted substantial applications to the state in December of last year, but the license lottery – originally expected to occur in the first quarter of 2021 – has been postponed since then. Finally, the day has arrived.

Russell Griffiths, an economic and policy analyst with the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, will have his eyes covered when he picks five numbered balls from a transparent tumbler borrowed from Twin River Casino this Friday, according to the Office of Cannabis Regulation (OCR)’s announcement.

A livestream of the lottery will be available via Zoom at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83258732614?pwd=VWIyeDlWTXpwRGpFRG94UStoWWtudz09

Rather than further delay the lottery due to the administrative appeal of one non-approved applicant, OCR will proceed with a lottery for the pre-approved companies who have submitted a total of 37 license applications in the other five zones across the state. Due to the administrative appeal, a lottery to select the licensee for the Newport area will not be held on Friday.

Depending on which zone a given applicant has applied to be licensed, the odds will differ. In Zone 3, for example, a license will be awarded to one of two applicants: Green Wave CC Inc. or Rhode Island Compassion Center Inc. Zone 4, on the other hand, features eleven companies vying for a single license. One ball—representing one applicant—will be randomly selected for each of the five zones.

Good luck to all the applicants.