the state of
Rhode Island
State Legislative Info
GOVERNOR
Daniel McKee
82 Smith Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 222-2080
Fax: (401) 222-8096
THE SENATE
Robert L. Ricci
Secretary of the Senate
State House, Room 220
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 276-2555
THE house
Information not available
Looking for the
latest info?
Join your state's Facebook group!
Share news, events, and upcoming legislation with other members near you
Rhode Island CALLS TO ACTION
No Calls to Action?
If you’re seeing this post it means that CASAA hasn’t issued any Calls to Action for your state, or that
Rhode Island LAWS & TAXES
laws
- Sales and distribution of vapor products to persons under 18 years of age is prohibited.1,2
- Purchase and public possession/use of vapor products by persons under 18 years of age is prohibited.1,3
- A retail license or permit is required to sell vapor products.4
- Possession of vapor products by visitors is prohibited in all Rhode Island Department of Corrections facilities.5
- Schools must prohibit the on-premises use of vapor products.6
- Rhode Island’s Clean Indoor Air Act has been amended to prohibit the use of vapor products where smoking is prohibited.7
Tobacco/Vapor Sales Bans:
Retailers, including online sellers, must acquire a license to sell vapor products, which could cause many to refuse to ship to customers in the state.10
Tobacco/Vapor 21 Law: Federal law passed December 20, 2019 prohibits sales of all tobacco and vapor products to anyone under the age of 21 years old. FDA stated law became effective on that date. States may choose to continue with current age law at the risk of losing federal funding. Barrington and Central Falls already prohibit the sale of tobacco and vapor products to persons under the age of 21 years old.
Flavor Bans: Federal law prohibits the sale of closed system devices (pods, cartridges) containing e-liquid in flavors other than tobacco or menthol.
The sale of e-cigarettes in flavors other than “tobacco” flavor or unflavored is prohibited in the state. This includes both face-to-face and online sales. The law does not include tobacco (flavored cigarettes are banned at the federal level), marijuana products or other nicotine products. 10
Municipalities with their own flavor ban are Barrington, Central Falls, Johnston, Middletown, Providence and Woonsocket prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco except for certain types of retailers, such as tobacco retailers that receive a certain proportion of their revenue from tobacco, tobacco/smoking bars, e-cigarette establishments, adult-only retailers and/or liquor stores.9
taxes
- Vapor products do not have an additional state excise tax.
- Smoke-free tobacco is taxed at a rate of 80% of the wholesale price.8
- Rhode Island Statutes – Title 11 Section 11-9-13
- Rhode Island Statutes – Title 11 Section 11-9-13.8
- Rhode Island Statutes – Title 11 Section 11-9-14
- Rhode Island Statutes – Title 23 Section 23-1-56
- Rhode Island State Archives
- Rhode Island S 0402 – An Act Relating to Criminal Offenses – Children
- Tobacco Free Rhode Island – Local Tobacco Control Ordinances & Policies
- Sales Tax Handbook – Rhode Island Tobacco Excise Taxes
- Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids – States & Localities that have Restricted the Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products
- Prohibition on the Sale of Flavored Electronic Nicotine-Delivery System Products
Updated February 2023
9 Tips for Being an Advocate
get to know your lawmakers
track local legislation
share casaa calls to action
complete our calls to action
Attend
hearings & meetings
alert casaa
to local legislation
spread the word
follow us on social media

We Can't Do It Without Your Support
We rely on donations from generous supporters like you.
Every little bit helps!