Pubdate: Fri, 27 Nov 2015
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Rob Ferguson
Page: A4

MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW TO BE REVISED

Policy Allowing Smoking and Vaping in Public Sparks Second-Hand Smoke Concerns

Ontario's plan to allow vaping and smoking of medical marijuana 
anywhere, any time is going back to the drawing board after a public 
backlash suggested it was one toke over the line.

Associate Health Minister Dipika Damerla quickly reversed course 
Thursday over concerns about exposure to second-hand cannabis smoke 
in restaurants, theatres, offices and other public spaces where 
tobacco smoking is banned.

"We will consider this feedback, look at it very carefully and see 
what we need to do," she told reporters. "It's too early to say 
whether this was a failure or not. It's important that governments be 
responsive."

About 23,000 Canadians use medical marijuana under doctors' prescriptions.

The controversial policy would have exempted medical marijuana from 
new e-cigarette restrictions taking effect Jan. 1, which ban their 
use in non-smoking areas.

While proprietors and employers would have been given the legal power 
to tell people not to smoke or vape medical marijuana on the 
premises, there were fears about the potential for conflicts and 
misunderstanding along with air quality.

"You're trying to kill me if I go into a restaurant or movie 
theatre," said Toronto retiree Elinor Smyth, a former smoker with 
lung and heart disease, who often uses an oxygen tank to help her 
breathe. She blamed the government for not thinking ahead.

Restaurants Canada, which was not consulted about the policy, said it 
will be difficult to balance the competing needs of medical marijuana 
users and diners.

"We're looking at this as an opportunity to do what should have been 
done in the first place and see what the best way is to do this," 
said spokesman James Rilett.

The re-examination will test the limits of the legal and human rights 
concept that the needs of people with disabilities must be 
accommodated given the issue is sharing air.

Damerla said there is "no scientific evidence" second-hand marijuana 
vapour from e-cigarettes has any health effects on bystanders.

Medical marijuana users, which include cancer patients in pain and 
people with severe epilepsy who need it to control seizures, maintain 
they need the right to take their medication when and where they see fit.

"There's still time to work things out," said Jonathan Zaid, 
executive director of Canadians for Fair Access to Medical Marijuana, 
who noted he usually goes "outside the building" to vape his cannabis 
that he uses for chronic headaches.

"I'm discreet about it," he told the Star, adding that smoking or 
vaping medical pot in restaurants and playgrounds is "just not what people do."

Opposition parties charged the government should have consulted more 
broadly over the regulation before making it public. "It sounds like 
they need to do a little bit more homework," said Progressive 
Conservative Leader Patrick Brown.

Lack of consultation is a problem the Liberals have imposed on the 
sale of Hydro One, which polls suggest is opposed by about 80 per 
cent of the public, said Deputy NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.

"This should not come as a surprise," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom