Pubdate: Sun, 17 May 2015
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Aedan Helmer
Page: 3

BUZZON SNUFFED OUT

City officials shut down marijuana vapour lounge

Talk about a buzz kill. On the verge of celebrating one month 
operating on the outskirts of the law, Vanier's BuzzOn has been 
shuttered, but it wasn't police knocking on the door of the city's 
first marijuana vapour lounge.

City officials dropped in on BuzzOn Friday afternoon to serve 
co-owner Wayne Robillard with a cease and desist order, citing 
building code violations and safety issues, and also levied a fine of $3,000.

"We were expecting some hassles. This isn't going to stop us. It will 
just slow us down a little," said Robillard, who said he was caught 
off guard by the shutdown, claiming his lawyers have been in constant 
contact with the City.

Robillard said he plans to use the down time to renovate, and vowed to reopen.

"They're just trying to make it as hard for us as they can," he said.

"They're hoping we go away, but it ain't gonna happen."

Robillard claimed the action was part of a crusade by Mayor Jim 
Watson to shut the place down, but city officials said Saturday "the 
action is solely related to statutory matters pertaining to building 
code compliance from a safety perspective."

The owner of the property at 29 Montreal Rd. was ordered to "take 
appropriate steps to ensure that the space meets the requirements 
under the Code," according to an e-mail from city officials.

Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury said officials were "just doing 
our due diligence," and said the building owner and lease-holder were 
given ample notice to comply.

"If you have a space of assembly, like for a club or a Legion hall, 
there are certain requirements, like a second exit, adequate 
washrooms, that this property was not respecting," Fleury told the Sun.

"This owner went in and didn't get the right approvals... When 
someone opens a business, they come and meet with the city. When 
someone doesn't do that, there's usually reasons for it."

Fleury said even if the building was brought up to code, he would 
still object to the nature of the business, but not on any moral high ground.

"You have a legal substance in tobacco that you can't smoke in public 
and commercial places. And then all of a sudden, vapour lounges, 
e-cigarettes and others have come on the radar, and from a city 
standpoint, it's not about (legalization or prohibition of 
marijuana)," said Fleury.

"If we're not allowing people to smoke (cigarettes) in a commercial 
setting, then why should (vapour lounges) be able to operate?

"We have a direction under Smoke-Free Ontario, we have to make it 
compliant across the board." Robillard isn't buying it. "The police 
haven't been able to shut us down, so they're trying an alternate 
means," he said Saturday.

Ottawa police declined comment, saying BuzzOn is still the subject of 
an active investigation.

But Robillard said he's already consulted with several other 
entrepreneurs with designs on opening similar establishments in the 
city, pointing to one head shop that has already followed suit - 
although with less fanfare and out of the media spotlight - where 
paying members are allowed to consume marijuana on-site.

"It's going to become a lot more mainstream, despite what Mr. Watson 
thinks," said Robillard.

"If it wasn't for him we'd be open and running unimpeded right now."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom