Yesterday Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo introduced her plan to legalize recreational marijuana in the state, writes Joseph Misulonas. However, the governor said she did so "reluctantly," and that may explain why Rhode Island's legalization proposal would be one of the strictest in the country.

Raimondo's marijuana legalization proposal would be one of the strictest in the country. The proposal would ban people from growing marijuana at home, prohibit high-potency cannabis products like shatter or butane hash oil, and would also prohibit certain forms of edibles such as gummy bears. There would also be a limit of five milligrams of THC per serving in edibles, as well as a one ounce limit on cannabis purchases for consumers.

Essentially, Raimondo and her staff have taken all the harshest regulations from legal marijuana states and put them together in one bill. 

In fact, these regulations or so strict, you have to wonder if Rhode Island will even be considered a viable state for the cannabis industry. Massachusetts is only a short drive for most Rhode Island residents, and while that state also has some strict regulations, it would still be preferable to the Rhode Island regulations. And if Connecticut legalizes marijuana in the near future as well, Rhode Island residents may just decide to travel across state lines after a short drive to purchase the cannabis that they want.

Still, it's obviously a good thing that another state to join the legalized ranks. We just wish they would join it in a way that would also make it appealing to visit.