R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-28-3.22
A person in charge of a hospital or a laboratory, or in the employ of this state, or of any other state, or of any political subdivision of a state, or a master of a ship or a person in charge of any aircraft upon which no physician is regularly employed, or a physician or surgeon duly licensed in some state, territory, or the District of Columbia to practice his or her profession, or a retired commissioned medical officer of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, or public health service employed upon that ship or aircraft who obtains controlled substances whether under the provisions of this chapter or otherwise, shall not administer nor dispense, nor use those controlled substances within this state, except within the scope of his or her employment or official duty, and then only for scientific or medical purposes and subject to the provisions of this chapter.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-28-3.22