The rules are awkward, the products are confusing and enforcement is unclear.”

Georgie Cranson, coordinator of the Portsmouth Prevention Coalition

PORTSMOUTH — You can’t drink a beer, smoke a cigarette, light up marijuana, or vape at town beaches and parks — and now, cannabis-infused beverages are officially on that list as well.

On Sept. 8, the Portsmouth Town Council voted 7-0 to amend an ordinance to prohibit the consumption of THC-infused beverages in public spaces such as parks and beaches.

The amendment to Chapter 89 of the town’s codification of ordinances, which governs alcoholic beverages, comes at a time when state regulations around cannabis drinks are still evolving.

During a brief public hearing before the vote, Georgie Cranson, coordinator of the Portsmouth Prevention Coalition, urged the council to adopt the change.

“Without clear ordinance language, we create a loophole,” Cranson said. “By addressing this now, Portsmouth has an opportunity to close the loophole, strengthen prevention, and set an example for other Rhode Island communities.”

Cranson said the lack of restrictions could give the public the impression that the drinks are harmless. She also noted that, at the state level, regulations remain incomplete.

“At the state level, regulations are still in progress. As of July 2025, the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission has paused issuing retail licenses for these drinks until a study on regulation is complete,” she said.

“Existing state rules require THC beverages to be reusable and cap them at 5 milligrams of THC per container with a maximum of one milligram per serving. To put this in perspective, that’s like buying a beer but being told you can only take one sip before sealing it back up. The rules are awkward, the products are confusing and enforcement is unclear.”

She added that the concentrated version of THC used in these drinks is processed from hemp, creating an additional regulatory gray area.

Town Council President Keith Hamilton said the amendment simply extends existing restrictions on alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana products at town beaches or parks to cannabis beverages. 

No one else spoke at the hearing, which was closed quickly before the unanimous vote.