First Medical Marijuana Kitchen to Open in Arizona
The first medical marijuana kitchen open to the public in the United States will soon be serving meals in Tempe, Arizona. The new commercial kitchen will be operated by The Mint Dispensary and will offer cannabis-infused foods and beverages to medical marijuana patients beginning in early October.
The menu for the kitchen was created by Executive Chef Carylann Principal, a cancer survivor and classically trained chef. Principal said in a press release last week that the kitchen will provide foods that are not only medicated but healthy, as well.
“Our kitchen is one of a kind,” said Principal. “It’s a place where art meets science. In addition to understanding the variety of flavors that different cannabis strains can add to any dish, we’re also carefully calculating customized cannabis doses. We’re not only delivering delicious and fresh foods, but we’re also meeting the often-complex nutritional needs of patients who are living with a wide range of illnesses.”
Wide-Ranging Menu of Medicated Fare
The Mint Dispensary’s new kitchen will offer patients with a state medical marijuana card a menu with a variety of medicated fare including artisan burgers, pasta, pizza, and other options that can be ordered for takeout. The kitchen will also have a juice bar, gelato, and an espresso stop with a barista. Also available will be an assortment of pastries and baked goods including blueberry muffins, apple fritters, doughnut holes, raspberry Linzer bars, scones, and banana bread. Lunch and dinner dishes will include Hatch chile macaroni and cheese, street tacos, and fries in addition to the burgers, pizza, and pasta.
All dishes will have a carefully measured dose of cannabinoids of 10 milligrams or more. Eivan Shahara, the CEO of the Mint Dispensary, said the facility’s new kitchen will make medical marijuana accessible to more patients.
“Our industry continues to evolve at an exponential pace,” said Shahara. “We saw a large unmet need from patients who were regularly visiting our dispensary; they were looking to access fresh and healthy cannabis-infused foods. We know that the right kinds of healthy foods can help people to battle a variety of illnesses, from cancer and epilepsy to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. We’re using our knowledge about food and nutrition to help patients in their search for fresh, healthy snacks and infused meals.”
Other Medicated Services, Too
Beginning in November, the kitchen will also offer catering services for large medicated events, as well as parties and special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, and funerals. The Mint Dispensary will also introduce home delivery and offer specially made holiday meals for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. Cannabis cooking classes will also soon be offered free of charge on Sunday mornings for patients with a medicinal cannabis card. Space for the classes is limited and patients are asked to register in advance.
The new medical marijuana kitchen by the Mint Dispensary is slated to open on Friday, October 5. The kitchen will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. The full menu will be posted on the dispensary’s website once the kitchen has opened for business.
The post First Medical Marijuana Kitchen to Open in Arizona appeared first on High Times.
