Pubdate: Thu, 31 Mar 2016
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 The Windsor Star
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: John Liedtke
Page: A8

DISCRIMINATING AGAINST MARIJUANA USERS

The Liberals in Queen's Park have gone too far with their proposal to 
place medical marijuana in the Smoke Free Ontario Act and to ban 
combustion and vaping everywhere cigarettes and e-cigarettes are banned.

This is medication - nothing more and nothing less. The government 
isn't planning to prohibit or restrict illegal cannabis, only medical 
marijuana.

Legislatively prohibiting people from taking their medication has no 
place in a 2016 legislative agenda. Medical rights need to be 
protected and fought for, especially in the face of discrimination 
such as this government is presenting.

Specifically, no smoking rules would be expanded to apply to medical 
marijuana, medical marijuana vaporizers would be reclassified as 
e-cigarettes and their use banned wherever smoking and e-cigarettes 
are banned, and the sale of medical marijuana vaporizers to those 
under 19 would be banned.

These proposals are arbitrary, discriminatory, and serve only to 
intentionally harm and forcibly segregate some of the most vulnerable 
and protected members of society.

In a span of just a few months, the province went from publicly 
stating medical marijuana users' rights would be extended to allow 
for vaping in all public spaces for medical purposes, to a total and 
outright prohibition.

At a time when the federal government is planning to end prohibition, 
the province has started its own - except instead of targeting the 
black market, by targeting legal and prescribed medical users. It's 
absurd. The Liberals present this as an issue of balancing medical 
rights against societal rights, which is intentionally misleading. 
This is simply about limiting medical rights. It's presented as if 
currently medical marijuana users are lighting up joints and bongs in 
movie theatres, restaurants, and bars, and that there's an urgent 
need to stop this. This is not the case.

Medical marijuana users don't want confrontation and avoid causing 
issues with establishments and authority. Legislatively limiting 
medical rights doesn't fix a non-issue and forcing medical marijuana 
users to leave public spaces to medicate is legislated segregation.

If a medical marijuana user needs to medicate publicly, it is cruel 
to arbitrarily prohibit this. Further, cannabis lounges serve as a 
place where medical marijuana users can congregate in private and safety.

There are many medical marijuana users who will be unable to take 
their medication in the comfort of their own home due to this 
legislation, including: students who live in dorms, social housing 
residents, and hospital patients confined to their rooms. Cannabis 
lounges provide a safe and comfortable space to discuss meaningful 
issues about cannabis, and provide support and comfort to those seeking it.

Many new medical marijuana users have never seen their medication 
before, let alone consumed it. Most receive a prescription, order 
from a Health Canada approved medical marijuana producer via website, 
and a package arrives at their front door.

The proposed legislation intentionally targets a vulnerable and 
protected group for discrimination without justification whatsoever.

John Liedtke

John Liedtke is co-owner of Higher Limits cannabis lounge in Windsor.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom