Pubdate: Tue, 19 Sep 2017
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.torontosun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Antonella Artuso
Page: 12

CITY COMMITTEE ENDORSES PROVINCE'S POT PLANS

Mayor: No rush to OK lounges

A Toronto committee has endorsed the provincial government's plan for
recreational marijuana despite pleas from the pot industry to support
private dispensaries and cannabis lounges within the city limits.

Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker said the city has a very limited role
in this matter as jurisdiction falls to the federal and provincial
governments.

"You're talking to the wrong guy," De Baeremaeker said to the many
stakeholder and user representatives who complained Monday about the
provincial plan to sell pot through LCBO-affiliated stores and to
limit consumption to private property.

Activist Jodie Emery said the industry begged governments to legalize
its activities, only to see the province opt to sell the product
itself and send police after the operators of dispensaries.

"We want to be legal; we desperately want to be legal," she said.
"It's reefer madness redefined."

Councillor Jim Karygiannis said it was a mistake to give the province
a thumbs up on its plan, arguing it will not meet the needs of people,
such as first responders and veterans who use marijuana to cope with
PTSD. "The province has failed," he said.

But Councillor Frances Nunziata said she reports a dispensary as soon
as one opens in her ward.

Rather than hear only from industry representatives, the city needs to
listen to the unhappy neighbours of these dispensaries, she said.

"They're just popping up like crazy," Nunziata said.

Tracey Cook, executive director of Licensing and Standards, estimated
there are about 62 pot dispensaries in operation in the city, and
noted selling recreational marijuana remains illegal under law.

Abi Roach, a director of the Cannabis Friendly Business Association
(CFBA) and owner of Hotbox, asked the city committee to licence
cannabis lounges, saying many people who live in apartments or in
tight quarters with families in the city will not be able to use the
product on their property.

Toronto Mayor John Tory said he's not rushing to endorse licensing of
cannabis lounges, but is open to hearing the argument.

"Certainly, I think a lot of people in the public would say we don't
want people smoking anything in a restaurant... So it does raise the
question of 'Well, if not in a restaurant, if not here, if not there,
where?' " Tory said. "In my case, I want to see us be very careful
about this. I don't think we want to move to a situation where we just
sort of say it's open season and people should be smoking marijuana
wherever they want."
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MAP posted-by: Matt