doctors from massachusetts and conecticut can legaly sign the paper refering patients to get the card in rhode island. All you need is a rhode island i.d., technically not a residence. the card will only protect you in r.i.

this is what qalifies in rhode island:
Cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, Hepatitis C, or the treatment of these conditions

(ii) A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one or more of the following: cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe, debilitating, chronic pain; severe nausea; seizures, including but not limited to, those characteristic of epilepsy; or severe and persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to, those characteristic of multiple sclerosis or Crohn's disease; or agitation of Alzheimer's Disease

also anyone can just go to california, get the card, and come back, but will not be able to assign caregivers. if you want to do that, go check out
the hemp and cannabis foundation
they specialize in this sort of thing.