Pubdate: Sun, 12 Feb 2012
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2012 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact:  http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Tom Godfrey
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

VAPOUR TRAIL

Not Everyone Is Fired Up About New Pot Lounges

These are high but uncertain times to be living in south Etobicoke. Literally.

Area residents have mixed feelings about the city's newest 
pot-puffing "vapour lounge" that has rolled out a welcome mat in 
their struggling neighbourhood.

Some concerned residents have complained to Ward 6 councillor Mark 
Grimes about the open use of marijuana taking place inside Vape On 
The Lake that opened last November on Lake Shore Blvd. W., near Islington Ave.

The smoking of different strains of homegrown and government-issued 
weed has been taken to new heights at Vape. Users, who range from 
social smokers to holders of medical marijuana permits, can bring 
their own pot, or hashish, to the lounge.

There it can be is inhaled through temperature-controlled 
vapourizers, bongs (glass pipes), in joints or other gear that can be 
rented or purchased.

The dimly-lit lounge is clean and filled with large, comfortable 
sofas and surrounded by large screen TVs. Members have access to 
computer games, internet, satellite radio or can shop for rolling 
papers, pipes and other paraphernalia.

Downstairs is a showroom containing rows of decorative glass products 
that include hundreds of bongs, pipes and pot-smoking creations. Some 
of the designer-made pipes sell for as much as $12,000 each.

Vape also sells kilos of marijuana seeds to growers across Canada. 
They do not export seeds to the U.S., unlike B.C.'s former Prince of 
Pot, Marc Emery, who is serving a five-year term in the U.S. for 
selling cannabis seeds.

Vape owner and marijuana entrepreneur Marco Rendo suffers a coughing 
fit as he inhales marijuana from a large plastic bag inserted in a 
vapourizer, a device that blows vapour through a small amount of weed 
into the bag.

"This is good stuff," Rendo coughs. "We don't sell the marijuana here 
but people bring their own stuff and smoke it here."

He pinches a couple grams of weed from several ounces of his 
"personal stash" contained in a plastic container and fills a Volcano 
brand vapourizer as he prepares for another hit and more coughing.

"I have my own supplier," he says. "Most of my staff have permits to 
use marijuana for medical purposes."

His lounge is opened to anyone over the age of 18 providing they are 
a member. He will accept a minor with a marijuana permit who is 
accompanied by a guardian. A day pass cost $5 and no alcohol or 
tobacco products are allowed.

Rendo said members are known to staff and many have their own 
vapourizers and water pipes.

"People can stay here and smoke for as long as they want," he says. 
"There is no time limit."

He said Vape employs 10 workers and the lounge brings money into the 
community, mostly through the sale of food and munchies to customers 
from stores and restaurants nearby.

Rendo said Toronto Police have visited the lounge twice at his 
invitation and there's been no problems.

"The reaction from the community has been very encouraging," he says. 
"We are here and I don't think we are going to please everyone."

Rendo said most members use marijuana to control pain or for medical purposes.

"People are more comfortable when they see we are not a drug den or 
that we don't sell hard drugs," he says. "The government is selling 
marijuana for health care and we are offering people a place to use it."

Staff said patrons are out of luck if they try to buy weed at the 
lounge. Rendo said those searching for pot are sent to a health 
center where they can arrange to visit a doctor to obtain a permit, 
which has to be renewed yearly.

"We want to change the negative stigma that is attached to cannabis 
use," he says. "We want to change the stigma that now exists."

Rendo claims the opening of Vape has helped to get rid of crackheads 
and prostitutes who used to linger in front of his premises. Police 
and community members aren't sure of that claim.

"Our neighbours said they see less prostitutes and crack use now that 
we have opened up," he says. "People from all over come to us because 
we are the only lounge in the west-end of the city."

He also publishes Treating Yourself Magazine and is staging the third 
Annual Treating Yourself Expo on May 25-27 at the Metro Toronto 
Convention Centre.

The show features everything to do with marijuana.

Vape is one of seven vapour lounges in the City of Toronto. They are 
under review as officials try to determine what type of licence, if 
any, should be issued to govern them.

Toronto Police Const. Tony Vella said there has been no complaints 
against the club.

"The matter (licensing) is being looked into," Vella says. "At this 
time there has been no complaint filed."

Shane King, 25, says it took him two years to obtain a marijuana 
permit but first he had to find a doctor to accept him as a patient.

"It is very hard to get a licence," King says. "I had to find a 
doctor who was willing to sign for me."

He suffered from a number of medical ailments including chronic pain 
when he literally went to pot.

"There are lot of people on a waiting list for medical marijuana," he says.

"This place (Vape) is comfortable and people can come in an medicate 
themselves."

Soon-to-be-dad and lounge regular Jack Loudamok, 59, said he tokes to 
overcome depression.

"It helps me when I come here," Loudamok says. "This is a nice place 
and the people are friendly and welcoming."

Rene Frank, who suffers from chronic pain, said the lounge provides a 
safe and discreet refuge for smokers.

"The club is open to members only but everyone is welcomed," Frank says.

"Marijuana is natural and has no bad side effects as other medications."

Grace Madeiros, owner of nearby Taste Portuguese Cuise, said she 
hasn't heard of any complaints either.

"I don't have any problems as long as everything is legal and they 
are following the rules," Madeiros says. "I don't have an issue if 
everything is done above board.

More than 4,000 people in Canada are legally entitled to grow and 
take medicinal marijuana for various illnesses, government statistics show.

Health Canada grants these patients a certain amount of legal 
cannabis for their ailments, that includes AIDS, arthritis, asthma, 
Crohn's disease, depression, mental illness, epilepsy, glaucoma, 
chronic pain, post traumatic stress and migraines.

Health Canada obtains its pot and seeds from Prairie Plant Systems 
Incorporated, a company specializing in the growing, harvesting and 
processing of plants for pharmaceutical products and research.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom