Medical Marijuana on the Menu

April 27, 2012

By Erin Maxson

ASHLAND, Ore. -- A controversial restaurant in Southern Oregon is getting mixed reviews on its opening day.

The restaurant serves Mongolian stir-fry and a wide variety of desserts, but it's the marijuana on the menu that's causing a stir. Earth Dragon Edibles opened its doors for the first time Friday morning.

The owners say it's the first of its kind in the state, which has presented some problems; but they add, their restaurateur endeavors are serving a need in our community.

"They need to show us a card, and a current ID, and then we can have them become members," states co-owner Michael Shea

Cory Burnhardt, who owns Pirate Glass and is a medical marijuana cardholder, is the restaurant's first customer.

"I have never tried the stir-fry before so that sounds interesting and the cheesecake because it's cheesecake," says Burnhardt

"There is no medication, we have that in red, because that's the exception, or level one, is 1.75 grams so what we do is we refer to the original cannabis content, that goes into the making of the hash," explains Shea.

The medicine is added to the stir-fry though cannabis infused grape seed oil. The owners say they will closely monitor members to make sure no one is leaving who is too heavily medicated. Despite this assurance, some in the community remain skeptical; but the restaurant's customers so far think it will only help the image of the medical marijuana community.

The owners say they are working very closely with their attorney and now the Ashland Police, to make sure they are in compliance with all state laws; and one thing they say they are very proud of is that there is no cost difference between a meal with out medical marijuana, and one with it, even for the Level 3 cannabis content which would, according to their menu, be 7 grams of medicinal marijuana.