First Cannabis-Infused Dinner Event Coming to Rhode Island
GoLocalProv News Team and Kate Nagle
First Cannabis-Infused Dinner Event Coming to Rhode Island
Providence-based chef "Iron Thomas" Hunold is working on putting together the dinner locally with national organizers, following one that took place on "4/20" - April 20 -- in New York.
"You don't have to have a medical marijuana card -- there's no THC," said Hunold, of the plans for the Rhode Island dinner, and who can attend. "We'll have someone on site to test it."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"You still get the euphoria feeling," said Hunold of the food, which he explained is made possible by cannabidoil (CBD) oil. "I've been playing with this - I keep it earthy, you're going to get that flavor. I'm very confident it will be a success. We're looking at a three course dinner, and we're going to go from there...or we can do micro-dosage and do five courses."
Hunold said he was first introduced to chef Leighton Knowles in New York, who was one of the organizers behind the recent "Prohibition 420 Secret Dinner" in Glendale, NY.
"It is going to be more than just a dinner, there will be activities, education, arts, and more," said Hunold, who said that a location in Rhode Island is still being finalized. "I'm looking to make this bigger than just here. I'm looking to provide financial security for my family, for my daughters."
National Movement
Matthew Kipp, the Director at MileHigh PMP Cannaconsulting, spoke to the plans in Rhode Island.
Kipp shared the coverage from the recent event in Glendale, New York, which explained how the dinner fell under "legal" auspices, being infused with cannabidoil (CBD), a non-psychoactive component of the cannabis plant -- and containing no THC.
Neither responded to request for comment.
"Our last event in NYC [was] on 4/20 and it was such a hit we are being asked to go national with this," said Kipp. "The dates will be announced soon, [but the] location must remain secret to the public for promotional interest building."
"Everyone can attend. We have 0% THC in all products we carry, we have a lab tech on staff from Goat Labs Washington and we provide all lab results to local law enforcement weeks before the event to ensure we abide by all laws," added Kipp.
Other individuals involved include Meg Tomes, the owner of Crucial Biology Dot Com, Jeff Gauthier with Bulls Eye Farms Distribution, and "Culinary Ninja" chef Knowles.
"I work on the menu designs, and plan the foods. I cook and hopefully people enjoy it. I love what I do," said Knowles. "It's my passion. And working with friends is amazing. And Meg keeps us all sane and focused. She is the drive we need."
"We are taking a different approach to this and using food to describe one of the largest components of Cannabis (Terpenes). By using food and then infuse with CBD, it allows us to educate on multiple levels," said Knowles.
Both Kipp -- and Hunold -- noted they are in the process of finalizing details for Rhode Island.
"We are still in discussion about the event, so the only way to truly keep updated is to follow our pages," said Kipp. "@MileHighPMP, @CulinaryNinjaCatering, @BullseyeFarmsDistribution, and our website which is being updated as we speak - Crucialbiology.com."
Winners and Losers in Raimondo's FY18 Budget Proposal
Winner
Criminal Justice Reform
Per recommendations from the Justice Reinvestment Working Group, the Governor is proposing nearly $1 million in investments such as the public defender mental health program ($185,000), improved mental health services at the ACI ($410,000), recovery housing ($200,000) and domestic violence intervention, in her FY18 budget.
Winner
English Language Learners
Under the heading of “promoting 3rd grade reading,” Raimondo proposed adding $2.5 million to make English Language Learning (ELL) K-12 funding permanent. The Governor’s office points out that RI is one of four states that doesn’t have permanent funding.
The suggestion was one made by the Funding Formula Working Group in January 2016, who said that “in the event that Rhode Island chooses to make an additional investment in ELLs, the funding should be calculated to be responsive to the number of ELLs in the system and based on reliable data, and include reasonable restrictions to ensure that the money is used to benefit ELLs — and promote the appropriate exiting of ELL students from services.”
Winner
Car Owners - and Drivers
Governor Raimondo wants to reduce assessed motor vehicle values by 30% - a change that would reduce total car tax bills by about $58 million in calendar year 2018. Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello, however, has indicated that he might want to go further in its repeal.
In her budget proposal, Raimondo also put forth adding 8 staffers to the the Department of Motor Vehicles to "address wait times."
Winner
T.F. Green
The “Air Services Development Fund” would get an influx of $500,000 to “provide incentives to airlines interested in launching new routes or increasing service to T.F. Green Airport.” The Commerce Corporation set the criteria at the end of 2016 for how to grant money through the new (at the time $1.5 million fund).
Also getting a shot in the arm is the I-195 development fund, which would receive $10.1 million from debt-service savings to “resupply” the Fund to “catalyze development & attract anchor employers.”
Tie
Minimum Wage Increase
An increase in the state minimum wage is part of Raimondo’s proposal, which would see it go from $9.60 an hour to $10.50 an hour. Raimondo was unsuccessful in her effort in 2016 to bring it up to $10.10 — it was June 2015 that she signed legislation into law that last raised Rhode Island’s minimum wage, from $9 to 9.60.
The state's minimum hourly wage has gone up from $6.75 in January 2004 to $7.75 in 2013, $8 in 2014, and $9 on Jan. 1, 2015. Business groups such as the National Federation of Independent Business however have historically been against such measures, citing a hamper on job creation.
Tie
Cigarette Tax
Like the minimum wage, Raimondo is looking for an increase - in this instance, the cigarette tax, and revenue to state coffers. Raimondo was unsuccessful in her effort to go from a tax of $3.75 to $4 last year. Now she is looking for an increase to $4.25 per pack, which the administration says would equate to $8.7 million in general revenue — and go in part towards outdoor recreation and smoking cessation programs.
The National Federation of Independent Business and other trade groups have historically been against such an increase, saying it will hurt small businesses - i.e. convenience stores. And clearly, if you’re a smoker, you’re likely to place this squarely in the loser category instead.
Loser
Hospitals
As often happens in the state budget, winner one year, loser the next. As GoLocal reported in 2016, “the Rhode Island Hospital Association immediately lauded the budget following its introduction, and addressed that while it is facing some reductions, that it "applauds" this years budget after landing on the "loser" list last year.”
This year, it falls back on the loser list, with a Medicaid rate freeze to hospitals, nursing homes, providers, and payers — at FY 2017 levels, with a 1% rate cut come January 1, 2018.
Loser
Online Shoppers
The taxman cometh — maybe. Raimondo proposed an “Internet Sales Tax Initiative” — which would purportedly equate to $34.7 million in revenues.
"Online sales and the fact that online sellers do not collect sales tax has created a structural problem for Rhode Island's budget — our sales taxes have been flat," said Director of Administration Michael DiBiase, of the tax that Amazon collects in 33 states, but not Rhode Island. "We think mostly due to online sales, we’re able to capture the growth. The revenue number is $35 million dollars — it improves our structural deficit problem. It’s an important fiscal development."
Loser
Long Term Care Funding
The Governor’s proposal recommends “redesigning the nature” of the State’s Integrated Care Initiative, by transferring long-term stay nursing home members from Neighborhood Health to Medicaid Fee-for-Service and repurposing a portion of the anticipated savings (from reduced administrative payments to Neighborhood Health) for “enhanced services in the community.” “The investments in home- and community-based care will help achieve the goal of rebalancing the long-term care system," states the Administration.
Cutting that program is tagged at saving $12.2 million; cuts and “restructuring” at Health and Human Services is slated to save $46.3 million.
