Pubdate: Sat, 20 Jan 2018
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2018 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Jacquie Miller
Page: 2

POT LOUNGES LICENSED?

Province publishes legislation for public input

Ontario is considering licensing lounges where people can consume
marijuana when the drug becomes legal across Canada, according to
regulations published by the province for public comment.

The province also wants the public to weigh in on the idea of
apartment and condo owners being allowed to designate areas outside
where residents could smoke or vape.

The proposals modify the province's plan to ban marijuana use in all
public places, essentially restricting people to consuming it at home.
Critics have pointed out problems with that approach. Children could
potentially be exposed to second-hand smoke and vapour in their homes.
And apartment and condo dwellers who live in no-smoking buildings
would have no place to consume cannabis.

"That's been identified as a major flaw in the legislation," says
Trina Fraser, an Ottawa lawyer who specializes in cannabis business
law. "If you're not creating venues for people to consume cannabis,
you are basically driving it into the very places you don't want.

"If somebody doesn't want to get evicted from their (no smoking)
apartment, they might smoke in their car, and you don't want them
smoking in their car. But they are going to feel like, 'I've got no
choice. I've got no other place to go where I can use cannabis.'
That's an issue."

Ontario's proposed regulations would also relax consumption rules in
other areas. Tourists would find it easier to check out Ontario's
legal pot, for instance. People would be allowed to smoke or vape in
any hotel room where cigarette smoking is allowed. And there would be
no restriction on consuming other forms of cannabis in hotel rooms, so
sharing a few pot candy bars, when edible cannabis products are
eventually legalized by the federal government, would be OK.

The regulations provide more detail to the Cannabis Act passed by the
provincial legislature in December. Other highlights from the proposed
regulations:

People would be allowed to use marijuana in vehicles and boats with
sleeping accommodations and cooking facilities that are being used as
residences. The RV must be parked or the boat docked, though.

People whose workplace is in their home would be allowed to consume
cannabis there. Consumption is banned at other workplaces.

The regulations clarify that cannabis cannot be consumed at public or
private schools, childcare centres or any place where an early years
program or service is provided. Home daycare operators could not smoke
or vape, even when children are not present.

Smoking and vaping would be prohibited in any indoor or outdoor common
area of a condo, apartment building or university or college residence.

Public comments are accepted until March 5. Regulations giving more
detail about the subsidiary of the LCBO that will operate cannabis
stores in the province were also posted, with public comments on those
accepted until Feb. 7.
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MAP posted-by: Matt