(a)  It shall be illegal for any person, partnership, corporation, or other entity to sell, give, provide, or otherwise supply powdered caffeine to any person under the age of twenty-one (21) years.

(1)  Any person, partnership, corporation, or other entity located within or without the state of Rhode Island that violates § 21-37-3(a), shall be punished upon conviction:

(i)  For a first offense, by a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500);

(ii)  For a second offense, by a fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) and/or imprisonment of up to one year; and

(iii)  For a third or subsequent offense, by a fine of up to three thousand dollars ($3,000) and/or imprisonment of up to three (3) years.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 21-37-3

  • Caffeine: means that central nervous-system stimulant and known alkaloid commonly found in cocoa and coffee seeds or beans; and

    (2)  "Powdered caffeine" means any concentrated powdered form of the stimulant caffeine, or any powder substance sold or marketed as pure or concentrated caffeine. See Rhode Island General Laws 21-37-2

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6

(b)  Any person being under the age of twenty-one (21) years who possesses powdered caffeine may be punished upon conviction by a fine of up to five hundred dollars ($500) and may be ordered to perform up to thirty (30) hours of community service, and upon a second or subsequent violation hereof, may additionally be ordered to undergo a substance abuse assessment by a licensed, substance abuse professional.

History of Section.
P.L. 2016, ch. 124, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 133, § 1.