This Just In: A marijuana dispensary with no marijuana
Good afternoon and welcome to This Just In. I'm Mike McDermott, managing editor of The Providence Journal. Today is June 22; Providence County was founded on this date in 1703 as the County of Providence Plantations, including the towns of Providence, Warwick, Westerly, Kingstown and Greenwich. On this date two years ago, Gov. Gina Raimondo signed an executive order removing "Providence Plantations" from official state communications; state voters removed those words from the official state name five months later.
The state's newest medical marijuana dispensary – and the first since 2014 – has opened its doors in South Kingstown. What won't you find there? Marijuana. Last fall, the state awarded licenses to operate dispensaries to five companies through a lottery system. But as Tom Mooney reports, local zoning troubles have stalled most of these projects. The perhaps aptly named Sweetspot Dispensary on Pershing Avenue in South Kingstown has found a way to speed things along by going to a home delivery-only model.
The votes should be fast and furious as the General Assembly continues to move toward ending its 2022 session. Among the many items on the agenda tonight: a Senate vote on the state budget already passed by the House; and a full House vote on allowing driver's permits for residents who cannot prove legal immigration status.
Yesterday, state lawmakers advanced bills to purchase more offshore wind energy, cap concentrations of so-called forever chemicals in drinking water, prohibit food packaging that contains the same type of human-made chemicals, and ban the distribution of single-use plastic bags. Meanwhile, the House leadership said it would not take action on a bill that would ease the permitting process for the use of extreme heat to break down plastic into combustible fuels and other products.
The Rhode Island Department of Health reported two coronavirus-related deaths and 286 additional cases of COVID-19, along with 4,542 negative tests, for a 5.9% positive rate. There were 62 COVID-positive patients in Rhode Island hospitals at last count, down from 65 reported yesterday, with fewer than five in intensive care. Rhode Island has reported an average of 262 new cases a day over the last seven days, down 20% from a week ago and down 37% from two weeks ago.
Two adults with gunshot wounds were pronounced dead inside a house in Cumberland this morning. Police have released little information so far, but said there was no danger to the community.
The state Supreme Court ruled that the Rhode Island Airport Corporation broke the law when it fired the airport's deputy police chief in 2020 without first holding a hearing.
In the first television ad of her campaign for governor, Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea said she would increase taxes on corporations to help solve the housing crisis. Patrick Anderson got some details on how that would work.
The Rhode Island SPCA has taken custody of 40 beagles who once belonged to a company that supplies medical research laboratories. The search is now on for New England families willing to adopt them.
It was a great time last night at the Providence Journal All-States celebration. You can find the winners of all our special awards right here.
And finally, it's strawberry picking time in Rhode Island. Here's a look at where you can go to pick your own across the state.
Have a great night. And remember, if you enjoy This Just In, please encourage a friend to sign up.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: This Just In: A marijuana dispensary with no marijuana
