First U.S. medicinal marijuana kitchen to open in Tempe

TEMPE, Ariz. (KSAZ) -- The Mint Dispensary is taking "edibles" to the next level, and launching the country's first full-service cannabis kitchen in Tempe this October.

Arizona residents that possess a medical marijuana card can now enjoy a hot meal that also contains THC.

For decades, pre-packaged food and snacks have been available at dispensaries, but the Mint Dispensary is now revolutionizing the edible experience.

Now, you can get breakfast, lunch and dinner all infused with cannabis and prepared by classically-trained and cancer survivor Chef Carylann Principal. And don't worry, there will be plenty of munchies, or snacks, too.

"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," said Eivan Shahara, CEO of The Mint Dispensary. "We know the right kinds of healthy foods can help people to battle a variety of illnesses, from cancer to epilepsy to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. We're using our knowledge about food and nutrition to help patients in their search for fresh, healthy snacks and infused meals.

On the lineup will be burgers, pastas, pizza, gelato, a juice bar and a wide assortment of pastries. You can get your grub to-go from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Doses will be 10 mg and up.

The dispensary will also offer catering services for large medicated events and special occasions starting mid-November.

The Mint Dispensary invested $2 million to expand and remodel the dispensary which included a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen at its current Tempe location.

Chef Principal insists her food and nutrition knowledge will not only create a delicious experience, but will be beneficial to those fighting battles.

"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," Principal said. "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."

Plus, Chef Principal will hold free cooking classes on Sunday mornings. Patients with a medical card will have to register ahead of time.

The Mint Dispensary is the operator of one of the largest medical marijuana dispensaries in the United States.