Pubdate: Sat, 17 Jan 2015
Source: Providence Journal, The (RI)
Copyright: 2015 The Providence Journal Company
Contact:  http://www.providencejournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/352
Author: Patrick Anderson

R.I.'S FIRST MEDICAL MARIJUANA VAPOR LOUNGE TO OPEN IN PROVIDENCE

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Two Johnson & Wales University graduates are ready 
to open the state's first medical marijuana vapor lounge in downtown 
Providence Saturday.

Named Elevated, the small storefront lounge on Peck Street does not 
intend to sell marijuana, but offer licensed medical marijuana 
patients a casual space to consume their medication in vapor form, 
said owner Kevin Cintorino Friday. Pipes and accessories for 
marijuana "vaping" will be available to rent.

"A lot of landlords don't let you use medicine in your apartment, so 
people have to go to their friends' houses and other places that 
aren't convenient," said Cintorino, who is also a medical marijuana 
patient. "Here they can relax and talk about what works best with 
other people who know about it."

Unlike smoking the drug, vaping marijuana, like vaping tobacco, 
avoids Rhode Island's indoor smoking ban.

In fact, Cintorino has found permitting and regulation of the vapor 
lounge relatively negligible, although that may be because it's so 
new to the state.

Cintorino said he has reached out to both city and state regulators 
and, aside from a license to operate a retail business and be open on 
Sundays, has not been told he needs any license specific to vaping or 
marijuana.

Customers will rent space in the lounge, which features couches, 
tables and TVs, by the hour.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom