Rhode Island Hospital study challenges medical marijuana assumption

Legalizing medical marijuana doesn't increase use among adolescents, study says

Science Daily

Parents and physicians concerned about an increase in adolescents' marijuana use following the legalization of medical marijuana can breathe a sigh of relief. 

According to a new study at Rhode Island Hospital which compared 20 years worth of data from states with and without medical marijuana laws, legalizing the drug did not lead to increased use among adolescents. The study is published online in advance of print in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Here's a tip: $2.13 an hour is not a fair wage

The Secret Sauce Behind Leading Opponents of a Minimum Wage Increase

By LeeAnn Hall and Saru Jayaraman 

There's a heated debate going on in Congress and many state capitols this spring over raising the minimum wage. One of the key players -- and a vocal opponent of wage increases -- is the restaurant lobby, led by the National Restaurant Association (NRA).

So, when the Restaurant Association holds its annual lobby day in Washington, DC in late April, topping its agenda will be this: to stick a fork in the proposed federal minimum wage increase.

The NRA has an impressive track record on this score: Congress hasn't voted to increase the minimum wage since 2007, and the tipped minimum that applies to many restaurant workers remains frozen at $2.13 an hour... where it's been stuck since 1991.

Whose interests does the NRA represent? Its membership includes a kitchen sink list of corporate chains, including Darden Restaurants (parent company of Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and Capital Grille), YUM! Brands (parent of Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut), Walt Disney, McDonald’s, Marriott, Sodexo, Aramark, Starbucks, and Coca-Cola -- all members of the Fortune 500 or Global 500.

SRIV takes over supervision of Charlestown Community Garden

Garden poised to grow

Beware, Charlestown vampires - the garlic is coming up!

By Will Collette

In a quiet and noncontroversial way, the Charlestown Town Council approved the transformation of the Charlestown Community Garden from being a quasi-municipal program to becoming a part of the network of services run by the non-profit Southern Rhode Island Volunteers (SRIV). The measure was included in the Council’s “consent agenda” for April 14 and was approved unanimously without discussion or debate.

The Garden was started in spring 2011 in Ninigret Park and has been producing up to 3,000 pound of fresh vegetables and fruit each year. That produce is distributed among local food panties and programs including SRIV’s senior meals program.

SRIV Director Deb Tanner said “SRIV is already delivering meals on wheels and food from local food pantries to elders, disabled adults, and families in need.  SRIV also provides rides for senior citizens to RICAN and the Jonnycake Center food pantries to pick up food.  The garden’s purpose just fits our mission of service to our neighbors in need across Washington County.”

Vaccination saves lives

Wednesday - Environmental Lobby Day at the State House

Environmental Lobby Day to Pressure Lawmakers

Citizen lobbyists are needed more than ever, given this year's change\
in the House leadership

By ecoRI News staff

PROVIDENCE — On the afternoon of April 30 — to cap off Earth Month, and as state lawmakers begin the last leg of the 2014 legislative session — the Environment Council of Rhode Island (ECRI) will be holding its annual “Earth Day at the Statehouse.”

With the General Assembly considering legislation to cap global warming pollution, expand renewable energy, ban plastic shopping bags and implement statewide composting, this event, from 2:30-4:30 p.m., will feature environmental advocates, activists, organizations and concerned citizens lobbying for Rhode Island's environment.

This Saturday, pitch in by pitching out

Join the conversation

Lynn Baker-Dooley, South County Habitat for Humanity, URI student volunteers discuss Home for a Hero project during Google+ Hangout, Apr. 30

Shelbey Bidell, URI

KINGSTON, R.I. –Student volunteers from URI Habitat for Humanity joined South County Habitat for Humanity last fall on the Home for a Hero project to build a home for disabled veteran, James LeShane. 

As the home’s completion date nears, the University of Rhode Island will host a Google+ Hangout with a panel of guests involved in the latest URI-sponsored project on Wednesday, April 30 from 1 to 1:30 p.m. to learn more about the initiative and the home’s progress.

DEM stops fish-stocking at Carolina trout pond

Dam needs repair

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish & Wildlife announces that the stocking of trout will be suspended at the Carolina Trout Pond, Richmond, until dam repairs can be made.

Due to the heavy rains this spring and a drainage system failure, the stability of the earthen dam at the Carolina Trout Pond has been compromised. Anglers are being asked to stay off the dam. Repairs are due to begin soon.

Fish stocking which includes the May 3rd & 4th - Free Fishing Weekend, the Golden Trout stocking at the Carolina Trout Pond will be suspended. An alternative site will be Browning Mill Pond, in Exeter.

Free fishing May 3 & 4

Anglers Can Catch a Golden Rainbow Trout and Win a Prize

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces that Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4 are free fishing days in Rhode Island. During those two days, all Rhode Islanders and visitors can fish in freshwaters without a fishing license or trout conservation stamp. The free fishing weekend does not apply to saltwater fishing or saltwater licenses.

"Free fishing weekend is a terrific incentive to get outdoors and try something new, especially after the long, cold winter we've endured this year," said DEM Director Janet Coit. "Grab a fishing pole and head out to Rhode Island's lakes and ponds on the first weekend in May to catch the beautiful brook, brown and rainbow trout raised in DEM's hatcheries. A few lucky anglers will catch the gorgeous golden trout that we've stocked in fishing areas across the state for this free event."

VIDEO: Charlestown Tapas

Lots more tasty tidbits of local news

By Will Collette

Misquamicut Beach project starts late

As of April 23, no sand had been moved from Botka’s sand pit at the north end of Pasquiset Pond down Routes Two and One to Misquamicut. The federally-funded beach restoration project requires 84,000 cubic yards of sand mined in Charlestown to be moved via thousands of truck round-trips to the beach by June 1 via Route Two to Route One and back again. Click here for earlier details.

They were supposed to start in early April but blew at least two weeks of an already tight window of time. They’ve finally started moving the sand and, so far, plan to work Monday through Friday, though they just got Westerly's approval to work on Saturday too. The contractor, MZM Construction of New Jersey, is subject to daily penalties of $2,385 if the job isn’t done by June 1.

Charlestown unemployment dips slightly

White (+ guns) make right

Rancher Bundy

By Tom Tomorrow

Click here to see Rancher Bundy take on the fascists who want to take away your freedom.

How about skipping the lawn chemicals this year?

This bank is your bank, this bank is my bank. Really.

Making Banking Work for Everyone

By Keith Mestrich 

Editor’s Note: in the interest of full disclosure, Keith is an old friend of mine; I finished out my career working with Keith at the textile workers union.  Keith is now an executive at Amalgamated Bank, the only bank in the United States that was founded by and is run by a labor union and its members. - WC

Finally, Congress and state officials are working to crack down on the payday loan industry was welcome--and overdue. For too long, America has been facing a crisis hiding in plain sight: Nearly 1/3 of the U.S. population is unbanked or underbanked. These are men and women who either don't use banks at all, or rely on check cashing services, payday loans, money orders and pawn shops for most of their financial needs.

We have to change

IPCC concludes: Renewable energy shift is a must

From: ENN Editor 

Conclusions from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's are simple: rapid shifts to renewable energy are needed to avert catastrophic global warming. The IPCC's report was produced by 1250 international experts and approved by each major government in the world. 

The report documented increases in human-caused greenhouse gases, the source of those gases, and their climatic effect. The most significant conclusions resulting from IPPC report are:

- Current efforts to reduce greenhouse gases are not enough.
- Energy supply is not the only thing driving emission increases.
- Big changes will be needed to avoid disaster scenarios.

Apparently, not the silver bullet

Green Bullets Bill Misses Target

By TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI.org News staff

PROVIDENCE — A bill that would take the lead out of hunting ammunition was effectively shot down during its first Statehouse hearing. “I don’t think we are particularly ready for this particular bill at this time,” said Rep. Donna Walsh, D-Charlestown, a member of the House Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources. 

From the start of the April 17 House hearing, Walsh questioned the ban, noting that alternative ammunition such as tungsten and bismuth are no safer than lead. She also questioned whether animals killed by lead bullets pose a risk to humans.

“I’ve eaten a lot of game pheasants, rabbits, deer, the whole thing and I think my brain is still pretty good. I’m OK," she said.

The bill 7838 seeks to remove all lead hunting ammunition in Rhode Island by 2017. It mimics a California law, the only full ban on lead ammunition in the country, passed in 2013. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service banned lead from waterfowl hunting in 1991. Lead is allowed for land-based hunting, sport shooting and fishing tackle.